Chandigarh, September 30:- Several important decisions were taken at a meeting of the Special High-Powered Purchase Committee (SHPPC), chaired by Haryana Health Minister Aarti Singh Rao, to strengthen the state’s healthcare system, ensure the availability of essential medicines and medical supplies, and improve patient care services.
During the meeting, as an important step towards strengthening blood donation and transfusion services, a two-year rate contract for nine blood donation vans for district hospitals, at an estimated cost of around Rs 4.18 crore, was finalised. The vans will help organise blood donation camps at different locations and make access to safe blood easier. At the same time, rates for CT scan and MRI scan services at Civil Hospital, Karnal, under the PPP mode were also finalised, enabling patients to access affordable and modern diagnostic services.
To strengthen drug warehouse and logistics infrastructure, a two-year contract for 274 starters and extension racks, costing around Rs 1.94 crore, was finalised for safe storage of medicines and vaccines, better inventory management and uninterrupted power supply. A two-year contract for nine diesel generator sets (50 KVA), costing around Rs 86.23 lakh, was also finalised. To upgrade ophthalmology and ENT examination and surgical services, rates for six optical biometers, 13 ENT operating microscopes and six advanced phacoemulsification machines were also finalised at a total estimated cost of around Rs 12.22 crore.
Under prevention of serious diseases and emergency management, rates for 1,00,000 Micro PCR TB test kits (Truenat chips), at an estimated cost of Rs 6.72 crore, were approved for rapid and accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). Meanwhile, a budget of Rs 8.55 crore was fixed for the smooth operation and maintenance of PSA oxygen plants installed at district hospitals, so that uninterrupted availability of medical oxygen can be ensured.
In addition, large-scale budgets were approved to ensure timely availability of essential medicines and medical supplies at government health centres across Haryana. This includes medical consumables worth around Rs 132 crore for regular diagnostic, surgical and patient care services; Ayush medicines worth around Rs 80 crore for patients undergoing treatment at government Ayush facilities; and anti-rabies vaccine worth Rs 12.10 crore for timely treatment of people at risk of rabies infection. Besides, Rs 3 crore was allocated for the supply of weekly iron and folic acid supplements (WIFS) Junior under the anaemia prevention programme for schoolchildren, while rates for dual kits worth Rs 2.10 crore were finalised for early screening of HIV and syphilis among pregnant women and other patients.
Health Minister Aarti Singh Rao said that all these decisions of the state government would help eliminate shortages of medicines, vaccines and diagnostic kits in government hospitals across the state and further strengthen the healthcare services infrastructure.
