CGHS plans smoother drug delivery

The government is set to soon roll out a digital revamp of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) to improve delivery of medicines to its 4.7 million beneficiaries. The initiative aims to address recurring complaints of drug shortages and delays and will bring real-time tracking and accountability to ensure smooth delivery to one of India's largest public healthcare networks, according to two officials and documents reviewed by Mint.

- Priyanka Sharma

At the heart of the upgrade being carried out by the health and family welfare ministry is the new eShushrut Pharmacy Module—a guidance to CGHS dispensary staff to ensure ease of using digital platforms while dispensing the medicines to beneficiaries. This is designed to digitize every step—from inventory and prescription verification to dispensing—to ensure timely, transparent and reliable access to medicines across CGHS dispensaries.