The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) has recently transitioned to a new Health Management Information System (HMIS) portal, developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), replacing its two-decade-old software. However, this shift has led to significant technical issues, resulting in delays and disruptions in medicine distribution to thousands of beneficiaries across Delhi NCR.

Patients have reported delays exceeding ten days in receiving essential medications, attributing the issue to server problems and incomplete patient data uploads. The disruptions have severely impacted those relying on government dispensaries for treatment. Out of 151 CGHS dispensary units in the Delhi NCR region, approximately 139 are located in the national capital. While Ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines are available in some centers, most dispensaries primarily distribute allopathic medicines.

The new digital interface's technical glitches have rendered most facilities unable to provide even basic allopathic drugs on time. Patients across multiple locations have reported being turned away daily.

Due to the unavailability of medicines, many patients are being forced to purchase them from private pharmacies, placing an additional financial burden on them.

Chander Mohan Chugh, a member of ALL INDIA CGHS BENEFICIARIES group on Facebook said "New software launched in CGHS is not working properly. All beneficiaries are suffering. It should have been tested properly before launching. Please higher authorities may take care of this problem and solve it soon." On May 6 he said:

A dispensary official based in South Delhi indicated that the issue stems from the migration of dispensaries to the new server system. "Almost all dispensaries have been shifted to the new server, which is not functioning smoothly. This has affected medicine supply chains, and both staff and patients are facing difficulties. The problem has persisted for nearly 20 days," the official stated.

Officials managing the CGHS digital transition acknowledged the issue, citing the challenge of accommodating a massive database in the new system as the primary reason for the delay. "The new software is taking a bit of time. All corrective measures are being taken after spotting glitches. The services will normalize very soon," an official assured.

The ongoing disruptions have raised concerns among beneficiaries and healthcare providers, emphasizing the need for a swift resolution to restore essential medical services.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Sakshi Thakar/MSM)