JAIPUR: Authorities have temporarily suspended 215 private pharmacies from processing transactions under the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS) over alleged negligence and delays in dispensing medicines, officials said on Wednesday.
Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, Gayatri Rathore said the department was continuously monitoring the medicine distribution system under RGHS.
Pharmacies that allegedly failed to make medicines available to beneficiaries for a prolonged period were given an opportunity to explain their position. Their Transaction Management System (TMS) was suspended after the responses were found unsatisfactory or the pharmacies failed to respond to show-cause notices, she said.
Under RGHS, beneficiaries are provided cashless and discounted medicines through a network of empanelled retail and hospital pharmacies.
Jaipur recorded the highest number of pharmacies facing action, with 39 establishments having their TMS temporarily suspended. According to RGHS Project Officer Nidhi Patel, 20 pharmacies each in Alwar and Sikar were also affected.
The action covered several other districts, including 10 pharmacies each in Bharatpur, Churu and Dausa, nine in Ajmer, eight each in Jhunjhunu and Sri Ganganagar, and seven each in Jodhpur and Kota.
Six pharmacies each in Hanumangarh and Pali, five each in Baran and Kotputli-Behror, and four each in Deeg, Khairthal-Tijara and Tonk faced similar action.
Three pharmacies each in Didwana-Kuchaman, Nagaur and Udaipur were proceeded against, while two each in Beawar, Bhilwara, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Dholpur, Jaisalmer, Jalore and Karauli had their TMS suspended.
One pharmacy each in Balotra, Barmer, Bikaner, Jhalawar, Sawai Madhopur and Sirohi also faced action. Outside Rajasthan, one pharmacy each in Delhi and Gurugram was temporarily suspended from processing RGHS transactions.
Rathore said the action was intended to ensure discipline among private pharmacies and compliance with RGHS guidelines, particularly in view of difficulties faced by beneficiaries in obtaining medicines.
Patel said the scheme aimed to ensure timely and uninterrupted availability of essential medicines to eligible beneficiaries.
“Negligence or unnecessary delay in medicine distribution is being taken seriously,” she said.
The department said suspension of the TMS was a regulatory measure aimed at ensuring compliance with scheme provisions and minimising inconvenience to beneficiaries.