The Ministry of Health issues a circular on maintaining drug stocks in hospitals

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The Ministry of Health has issued a circular directing the Director of Health Services and the Director of Medical Education to ensure uninterrupted treatment of patients in government hospitals.

Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said that instructions have been issued to ensure availability of drugs and chemical reagents for laboratories and to monitor stocks accurately.

The circular mandates that doctors in OP (outpatient) departments be provided with an updated list of drug stocks in hospitals. This will help the doctors to have a clear idea about the drugs available in the hospital and prescribe them to the patients.

The minister also said that generic names of drugs must be written on prescriptions issued by doctors.

A report on reagent stocks and future requirements must be submitted every two weeks to anticipate potential shortages and arrange supplies in a timely manner.

The circular also says that where materials required for laboratory tests are not available, they can be purchased from Hospital Development Committee funds.

Published – 20 October 2026 22:47 IST