The decision appears to be a fall-out of the controversy over death of large number of children in BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur.(Representational Image)
The UP state cabinet on Tuesday decided to set up an Uttar Pradesh Medical Supplies Corporation to introduce a centralized and transparent system of purchase and distribution of medicines and medical equipment.
The decision appears to be a fall-out of the controversy over death of large number of children in BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur following disruption in oxygen supply.
Minister for medical and health Siddharth Nath Singh said the setting up of the corporation under Companies’ Act-2013 would take about a year. So, the existing arrangement of buying medicines and medical equipment on Central Medicines Stores Department (CMSD) rates would end after one year.
Having headquarters at Lucknow, the corporation would have an IAS officer as managing director. The state government will provide a capital of Rs 20 crore for the corporation.
The state government studied prevailing models in other states, including Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, where corporations had been set up and medicines and medical equipment were being bought at competitive rates. Other states that have set up corporations include Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Haryana.
The cabinet meet, presided over by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, also decided to allot 4,050 square metre nazul land in Chhavni village of Sultanpur district for a token money of Re 1 to set up a 10 KV FM radio station there.
The cabinet approved an additional expenditure of Rs 791.81 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yoajana following change in central funding pattern.
It also approved guidelines for Mukhya Mantri Protsahan Puruskar Yojana announced by the chief minister on Rashtriya Panchayat Divas on April 24, 2017. Three village panchayats from each block will be selected for the award. A total of 2,553 village panchayats will thus be benefited.
Siddharth Nath Singh said the government may come out with a scheme on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17.
[“Source-hindustantimes”]