``If the mayor asks for it, I will get it implemented in MCD units as well. But I am yet to hear from her,'' said Chaudhry, whose drug proggramme is completeing its fifth year in Delhi. The programme, comprising cheap and bulk procurement of drugs following a list of essential drugs and quality control, has helped the Delhi Government get drugs at 35 per cent less the actual cost besides cuttingg out chances of corruption at the procurement level, he says.

The hospitals are therefore now buying more drugs with the money saved, Chaudhry, who received the Secular India award fromthe United Children Movement Organisation, recently told The Indian Express

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The Delhi model is being implemented in Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai, Pune, Rajasthan and West Bengal and Chaudhry and his team have received requests from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana for implementing the policy there. Himachal Pradesh is all set to implement the pool procurement scheme and its Assembly has already okayed the policy, says Chaudhry, who is also president of the newly formed Delhi Medical Council.

But in Delhi, where the programme is in force, there is still no guarantee that the drugs in the store reach the patients. And Chaudhry, who takes pride in the progrmamme, admits it is a big loophole. ``We have no role once the drugs go to the store. It is a possibility that they can be pilfered and sold,'' he said.

The only solution for this is to computerise the set up, he said.

The essential list of drugs compiled by the Drug Purchase Committee headed by Chaudhry ensures that there is no corruption inprocurement. About 200 drugs are included in the essential drugs list for hospitals while about 100 drugs are there in a list for the dispensaries.

These are all bought in bulk under the pool procurement programme. While getting the drugs at cheaper rates, the purchase scheme also ensures quality, says Chaudhry.

The unique procurement system involves a double envelope method wherein the applicant for the contract hands in two envelopes -- the first is the technical bid and gives details about the company like turnover, facilites and the second is the price bid. The committee first looks into the technical bid and if it meets the committee's standards, the price is considered.

Chaudhry, who is also health adviser to the Governemnt, says hospitals have to buy 90 per cent of their money on essential listed drugs while they can spend 10 per cent on drugs outside the list.

How the system works

A committee headed by Ranjit Roy Choudhry, WHO coordinator for the rational drug use programme in Delhihas compiled a list of essential drugs for the Central Governemnt Health Services. The list, comprising about 600 drugs, will be submitted to the Health Ministry this week. Each drug has been given at least three brand names so that there is never a shortage of drugs, Chaudhry said.

He said the list did not mean the Central Governemnt would also adopt the pool procurement. ``My task was only to give a list of essential drugs,'' he said. He said a list of essential drugs was necessary as at present, a lot of unnecessary medcines were being bought by hospitals. He said often, even ayurvedic drugs were bought and doctors told Chaudhry and other members of the purchase committee that they were pressured to prescribe them if they were to get supplies of antibiotics, he said.

Besides, combination drugs (like a blend of an analgesic and a vitamin) were also being bought earlier, which are expensive as well as risky for patients. The essential drugs list does away with all these, saves money and ensures poorpatients get drugs, he said.