Jaipur: The health department Wednesday suspended the Transaction Management System (TMS) access of 215 private pharmacies across the state for allegedly failing to supply medicines to beneficiaries under the Rajasthan Govt Health Scheme (RGHS) for nearly two months.The action was aimed at ensuring timely availability of medicines and enforcing compliance with RGHS guidelines.Principal secretary (health and medical education) Gayatri Rathore said the RGHS medicine distribution system was continuously monitored. Pharmacies that had not supplied medicines for a prolonged period were issued show-cause notices and given an opportunity to explain.“Their TMS access was suspended after their replies were found unsatisfactory, or no response was submitted,” said Rathore.Jaipur accounted for the highest number of suspensions, with action against 39 pharmacies. Alwar and Sikar followed with 20 pharmacies each, while 10 each faced action in Bharatpur, Churu and Dausa. Nine pharmacies were suspended in Ajmer, eight each in Jhunjhunu and Sriganganagar, and seven each in Jodhpur and Kota.Dr Nidhi Patel, RGHS project director, said the action was prompted by difficulties faced by beneficiaries in obtaining medicines. Six pharmacies each were suspended in Hanumangarh and Pali, while five each faced action in Baran and Kotputli-Behror.TMS access was also suspended for pharmacies in several other districts, including Udaipur, Nagaur, Tonk, Bhilwara, Bikaner and Jaisalmer. One pharmacy each in Delhi and Gurgaon, linked to the scheme, also faced action.“The objective of RGHS is to ensure timely and smooth access to essential medicines for eligible beneficiaries. Any negligence or unnecessary delay in medicine distribution is being treated seriously,” said Patel.Further action will be taken under the rules after examination of the explanations submitted by the pharmacies and available records.
