At a time when mucormycosis (black fungus) cases are on the rise, confusion over the process of procuring the vital injections and tablets needed to treat the deadly infection is costly.
The government placed supplies of amphotericin-B and posaconazole injections and tablets in stores operated by Andhra Pradesh Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APMSIDC). It published the order number 123, which details the procedure for procuring the injections and tablets from APMSIDC, taking into account the scarce supply of drugs and avoiding black marketing.
The procedure includes obtaining written and manual signatures from department heads in hospitals, the District Health and Health Doctor, the District Health Services Coordinator, and finally the Joint Collector.
According to the order, the committee had to sit in a specific location so that the papers could be signed.
But the patients’ attendees found the committee members busy managing departments that required their presence in the offices around the clock.
The Joint Collectors also have many tasks to perform. The relatives therefore had to run from column to column to get the medication. In many cases this has led to a delay in the procurement of medicines.
“We’ve been waiting in the Joint Collector’s office since 4:00 p.m. to get the signature, but we’re told that the JC was on an official program. My brother was admitted to NRI General Hospital on June 2nd and I had to buy the medication from the central drug store in Gorantla and drive back to the hospital. It’s 5pm and any delay can be costly, ”said a patient’s relative.
Since the procedure needs to be changed, the Chief Secretary (Health) has to issue medication on the 3rd and.
The documents can later be sent for approval. District collectors have been asked to coordinate with the Director of Medical Education and the MD of APMSIDC to provide the necessary manpower, equipment, and medication. But the arrangement lacked clarity about the “telephone permit”.
This is where information technology (IT) can be used to simplify the process, say IT experts.
IT-based applications offer the solution to avoid such procedural delays. For example, as soon as the hospital where the patient is being treated a collection of medication is collected, a ticket can be created and sent to the person accompanying the patient. An OTP confirms the identity and the application can be processed online by the committee members with a digital signature and sent to the APMSIDC drugstores. After receiving the consent, the applicant receives a confirmation message and the message can be authenticated again with a system-generated OTP in the drugstore before the medication is delivered and the ticket can then be closed.
“The use of IT and mobile-based applications can ensure that the process is completed within three hours and saves the patient’s patients valuable time,” said one IT professional.