Rs 113 crore spent on maintenance of medical devices: J P Nadda

New Delhi: The government has spent Rs 113 crore in 2016-17 on maintenance of 4,560 medical devices which were not functional in various public hospitals in the country said Union Minister of Health, J P Nadda on Wednesday.

According to minister, there were a total of 7,56,000 equipment in 29,115 government medical institutions in India. However, 4,560 medical devices are not working.

"The maintenance was not being done for many medical equipment. We had started an initiative under which Rs 113 crore has been spent and all non-functional medical devices in the country's government hospitals have become functional," Nadda told media.

States were provided support for free drugs and setting up of drug procurement, quality assurance and IT-based supply chain management, among others in order to bring down out-of-pocket expenditure.

"Drugs procurement, quality system and distribution streamlined through IT-based Drug Distribution Management Systems in 23 States. All States and UTs have notified policy to provide essential drugs free in public health facilities," said Nadda.