ECHS – Modification of Procedure for procurement of Drugs and consumables

ECHS – Modification of Procedure for procurement of Drugs and consumables for Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)

ECHS – Modification of Procedure for procurement of Drugs and consumables

No. 22D(01)/2016/WE/D(Res-I)

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

New Delhi, 22nd August, 2017

To,

The Chief of Army Staff
The Chief of Naval Staff
The Chief of Air Staff

Subject : Modification of Procedure for procurement of Drugs and consumables for Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)

Sir,

There have representations from the veterans regarding supply of medicines. DGAFMS has undertaken a series of modifications to procedure of procurement of medicines for ECHS beneficiaries. Meetings have been held with all he stakeholders and with due deliberations it has been decided to adopt a procedure in line with Authorised Local Chemist model of CGHS for procurement of medicines through the Empanelled local
chemists.

2. With reference to Govt of India, Ministry of Defence letter No 24(10)/03/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 25th November, 2003, I am directed to convey he sanction of the Government on the Modification of Paras 17 to 25 and addition of Pa 26 regarding Local Purchase of Emergent, Life saving and Essential and Not Available drugs for ECHS as under:

For
Para 17 to 25: Existing

Read
17. In all stations with ECHS polyclinics, local medical stores/ chemists will be empanelled for supply of Not Available, emergent, life saving an essential drugs on as required basis.

18. The empanelment of local medical stores/chemists will be done by a Board of Officers constituted by the Station Commander which will comprise:-

Chairman – SO ECHS/ Col Rank officer detailed by Station Commander.
Members – Lt Col (Non Medical) detailed by Station Commander
– Jt Dir Hospital Services of Regional Centre concerned/ Medical Officer detailed by Station Commander
– Rep of IFA / PCDA / CDA

19. The Board of Officers will invite Tenders through advertisement in the local press and e-procurement portal from local medical stores, chemists for empanelment with ECHS Polyclinic. The Board will check the Technical parameters as per Tender Enquiry. The Board will arrive at L1 Vendor based on maximum overall amount of discount on MRP for all the drugs to be supplied with a minimum OR of 15%. The tenderers will quote an overall discount figure irrespective of the quantity or number of individual drugs. The Board will consider parallel rate contract with L2 and L3 vendors and include their names in recommendation if those vendors agree to the L1 rates. The Board of Officers will submit a recommended list of local medical stores/chemists to the Station Commander for approval. The Contract will be signed with the approved local medical stores/chemists by Stn HQrs for a period of two years. The detailed terms and conditions, formats of Tender Enquiry and Contract will be based on CGHS TE and contract of Authorised Local Chemists. All CGHS Authrosied Chemists in the same city will be considered as deemed empanelled i.e. need not participate in TE but sign the contract with Stn Cdr.

20. When an drug prescribed by the Medical Office in th ECHS Polyclinic is ‘not available’ as confirmed from the stock in the med cal st re of polyclinic, the Officer in charge Polyclinic will raise a demand to the empanelled local medical store/chemist. The demand will be supported by prescription signed by the Medical Officer managing the case. In all such cases, the ‘Medical Officer will ensure that there are no other substitutes available in the Polyclinic Medical store in lieu of the drug required. Branded drug will be prescribed with due medical justification only. On receipt of the demand, the empanelled local medical store chemist will supply the required drug to the Polyclinic. The indents will be preferably raised online to the empanelled local chemists and timelines as per CGHS contracts will be followed.

21. The Bills for the drugs supplied will be forwarded by the empanelled local medical store/chemists monthly to the Officer in charge polyclinic along with a copy of the demand raised by the Polyclinic. The Officer in charge Polyclinic will after due verification authenticate the receipt of drugs/consumable and forward the consolidated bills by the 5th of the following month to the Stn Hqrs who will process the same for releasing payment with sanction of Station Commander/ appropriate CFA.

22. The payments on account of procurement of drugs an consumables from empanelled local chemists will be made from the cash assignments placed at the disposal of Station Commanders and in exercise of delegated financial powers vide para 1 of Appendix to GOI letter No 24(3)/03/US(WE)/ (Res) (i) dated 08 Sep 03 relating to payments and reimbursements for medical expenses. Funds required will be placed at the disposal of Station Commander’s by; Central Org ECHS. The payments will be effected by cheque/electronic payment.

23. The monetary ceiling for expenditure are enhanced as follows:

Type A & B Polyclinics : Rs 2.5 lakh per month
Type C Polyclinic : Rs 1.5 lakh; per month
Type D Polyclinic : Rs 1 lakh per month

Any expenditure above this limit will be approved by CO ECHS. The CO ECHS may re-appropriate the required funds from other polyclinics if required.

24. The list of drugs and consumables indented from local chemists alongwith quantity indented will be included in the polyclinic in lent to SEMO when due.

4.         Rest of the letter no change.    The modification will be effec1ve from the date of issue of instructions by CO ECHS.                          .

5.         ‘Not Available’ drugs  mentioned   in para  15 pertain ta  stoJ   position in Service Hospitals and will not be applicable to ‘Not Available’ drugs in Para)1  and para 20 as it pertains to state at Polyclinics.

6.         This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Defence (Fin  nee) vide their U.O. No. 10(3)/2016/FIN/Pen dated 3.8.17

Yours faithfully

(A K Karn)

Under Secretary to the Govt of India

Download / Read ECHS – Modification of Procedure for procurement of Drugs and consumables No. 22D(01)/2016/WE/D(Res-I) dated 22.08.2017