KSMSC tightens drug procurement with sampling measures

THE Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation (KSMSC), the nodal agency for procurement of medicines, consumables and equipment for hospitals across the 31 districts in the state, had implemented a comprehensive quarantine and sampling framework aimed at strengthening quality assurance and accountability across its supply chain.

- Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru

The initiative is designed to ensure that all medical supplies undergo systematic quarantine, inspection, and sample testing before distribution, thereby reinforcing compliance with quality standards. Alongside this, KSMSC has enhanced its financial transparency systems to enable real-time monitoring of supplier payments, improving efficiency, trust, and fiscal discipline across procurement operations.

Phase wise purchase order is issued to ensure the receipt of drugs with sufficient shelf life, bulk storage over long periods to be avoided. This helps prevent space constraints at district warehouses and reduces the risk of drugs becoming Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) due to climatic variations. Aligning supplies with actual consumption also improves stock rotation and overall inventory management.