Health Ministry Directives on Hospitals' Medical Equipment Procurement
Understanding the Health Ministry’s New Directives
The recent advice issued by the Health Ministry underscores the need for government-run medical institutions, including AIIMS and various institutes, to minimize capital expenditures and dependency on a single manufacturer for medical equipment. This initiative comes on the heels of significant shifts in healthcare procurement strategies.
Importance of Comprehensive Maintenance Contracts
The committee recommends a comprehensive approach for the maintenance of medical equipment to improve patient care. They suggest a new warranty structure, establishing a two-year warranty followed by eight years of CMC for equipment with an effective life cycle exceeding ten years. This adjustment aims to address issues like higher capital costs and custom duties, all while promoting competition among providers.
- For high-end medical equipment: 2 years warranty and 8 years CMC.
- For equipment with a life cycle between 2 and 10 years: 2 years warranty with CMC for the remainder of the period.
Challenges in the Current System
The existing system's five-year warranty and maintenance contracts have displayed certain shortcomings, including elevated capital costs and limited software or hardware upgrades during that period. The new proposals aim to alleviate these financial burdens while ensuring hospitals can access advanced medical technologies.
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