In the recently released CAG report, which shares the audit findings of the Directorate of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH), the Comptroller and Auditor General of India revealed the shortage of staff in the three AYUSH hospitals and 24 dispensaries apart from the inadequate facilities.
Of the sanctioned posts of 163 doctors and 155 pharmacists in its dispensaries, only 135 and 91 posts are filled, respectively. And only 24 homeopathic dispensaries of the 103 have full complement staff. Whereas, all the three hospitals- Tibbia College, B R Sur Homeopathic Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, and Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Ayurvedic Charak Sansthan (CBPACS) have between 37 and 52 percent staff only.
"Equipment and infrastructure facilities in AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries such as drug storage, emergency services, medical record department, essential diagnostic equipment, operation theatres and ambulances were inadequate," the report stated.
Only 40 percent of the essential medicine were provided to the Ayurvedic and Unani dispensaries and 43 percent were available at Homeopathic dispensaries. And those available were procured with reduced shelf life ranging between 25 and 58 percent.
The CAG report also points out that the drug controller conducted only 8,267 and 149 inspections of the 31,424 and 180 inspections supposed to be conducted in Homeopathic and Ayurvedic & Unani medicine manufacturing units, respectively.
"In violation of the departmental procurement policy, classical Ayurvedic and Unani medicines (32.87 crore) were not purchased from Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (IMPCL) by the Directorate, Tibbia College, and CBPACS and patented/proprietary medicines (14.19 crore) were not purchased through open tender," it stated.
