Public health at risk
THE recent report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) highlights deep-rooted issues in Haryana’s public health administration, exposing repeated failures in drug management, staff allocation and resource utilisation. Haryana Medical Services Corporation Limited (HMSCL), tasked with supplying medicines to health centres, purchased Rs 1.52 crore worth of drugs from a blacklisted firm. Further, HMSCL paid Rs 5.67 crore to 15 suppliers with repeated quality failures, yet blacklisted only four. This oversight led to the issuance of 376 lakh units of substandard drugs to patients, compromising health outcomes in areas like Panipat, Nuh and Hisar.
The CAG’s findings reflect recurring lapses. Previous audits have revealed similar risks with expired drugs being distributed, as well as essential medicines stockpiling beyond expiration. This pattern is underscored by Rs 14.52 crore worth of expired drugs currently wasting in warehouses. Chronic delays in drug supply, with cases experiencing lags of up to 1,542 days, continue to affect service delivery. These issues point to a mismanaged supply chain and failure to enforce the Drug Purchase Policy’s provisions. Healthcare staffing shortfalls compound the crisis, with a staggering 41.82% vacancy rate in sanctioned positions, leaving hospitals without adequate medical professionals. A 2018 CAG report highlighted shortages in both equipment and specialist doctors, especially in rural health centres. Alarmingly, despite substantial unspent public health funds in previous years, Haryana’s management of its health budget remains inefficient.
Without systemic reforms in drug procurement, inventory control and staffing, these critical lapses will continue to undermine patient safety. The state must enforce compliance in drug quality and prioritise filling staffing gaps, especially in underserved areas. The CAG’s findings reveal a stark truth: Haryana’s healthcare system, without immediate and effective reforms, risks perpetuating the same failures year after year.
