Chhattisgarh's GPS tracking system ensures timely and safe medicine deliveries, improves CGMSCL's supply chain efficiency | Raipur News

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Limited (CGMSCL) successfully implements a GPS-based tracking system for medicine delivery, thereby improving supply chain efficiency. The system enables real-time tracking and monitoring of shipments from warehouses to healthcare facilities. CGMSCL emphasizes on transparency and security in deliveries and emphasizes commitment to exceptional service, reliability and transparency.

Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Limited (CGMSCL) is responsible for procuring and distributing quality-assured medicines and medical equipment to government healthcare facilities to improve the health of the people of Chhattisgarh. CGMSCL has now taken a major step to improve its supply chain by implementing a GPS-based tracking system for medicine delivery.

CGMSCL supplies life-saving medicines and essential consumables to over 1,300 healthcare facilities, including Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs), District Hospitals (DHs) and Medical College Hospitals. The distribution network is supported by 16 strategically located warehouses covering all the 33 districts of the state. A total of 44 vehicles used for medicine distribution have been fitted with GPS and can now be monitored online.

Nickson, branch manager of CHC, Berla in Bemetra, said that he used to have to contact the warehouse manager in Kabirdham to check the shipment of his ordered items. Now, he receives mobile notifications as soon as the goods leave the warehouse. This information allows him to track the delivery vehicle on a map without having to contact the warehouse or the driver. He logs into the newly launched application to monitor the movement of the vehicle, view the number of items delivered and estimate the delivery time so he can plan and prepare accordingly.

Deepak Lanjhee, deputy manager of the Kabirdham pharmaceutical warehouse, added, “In case of unjustified stops or deviation from the route of the vehicle, necessary action can be taken. Earlier, one had to call the driver to know the location of the vehicle and the warehouse manager to confirm deliveries. This information is now available online.”

One of the main objectives of CGMSCL is to ensure that the right medicines are available at the right place at the right time. Over the years, CGMSCL has taken several initiatives to strengthen its supply chain. These include improving its in-house software DPDMIS (Drug Procurement and Distribution Management Information Systems), increasing the efficiency of its warehouses and running its own vehicles for medical supplies.

By using its own vehicles, CGMSCL no longer has to rely on private drivers for deliveries and can therefore plan deliveries more conveniently. This approach also helps to keep operational costs largely under control. However, to find out the status of deliveries and vehicle locations, it had to contact the drivers directly.

Warehouse managers depended on drivers' information about actual mileage and time required for delivery. To overcome these challenges, the GPS tracking system was used.

CGMSCL has made it mandatory to install GPS enabled devices in all its delivery vehicles. The integration of GPS data with the DPDMIS application enables real-time tracking and monitoring of shipments from warehouses to healthcare facilities. This system enables accurate location tracking and estimation of approximate delivery time. It provides shipment details and enables management to take corrective action in case of any delays, breakdowns or route deviations.

In Chhattisgarh, many healthcare facilities are located in remote, hilly or forested areas. To deliver medicines to these facilities, CGMSCL's vehicles have to traverse difficult terrains where there is no or poor mobile coverage. Previously, estimating delivery times to such locations was difficult due to limited communication with drivers. The new GPS system enables continuous tracking of delivery vehicles, even in areas with poor or no mobile coverage, thus enabling easy estimation of delivery times.

“CGMSCL's GPS based vehicle tracking system is revolutionary as it brings transparency into the system and helps store managers, warehouse managers and management with features like real-time tracking through CGMSCL's user-friendly tracking interface on the website or mobile application. The GPS tracking system provides accurate Estimated Times of Arrival (ETA) so that store managers can plan their schedules accordingly and be prepared for the arrival of their packages. GPS tracking can provide proof of delivery by recording the exact time and location of delivery. This helps in maintaining transparency regarding the delivery status,” explained the Managing Director of CGMSCL.

She added, “The GPS tracking system increases the safety of deliveries by providing constant monitoring and alerts in case of deviations from the planned route. By optimising delivery routes and monitoring vehicle performance, it helps streamline operations and deliver medicines faster. It enables us to analyse data and identify areas where delivery processes can be improved. Ultimately, it helps us eliminate inefficiencies, streamline our operations and optimise costs. Urgent deliveries of life-saving medicines and medicines that are in urgent need of stock can be prioritised and effectively tracked to reach the required location as quickly as possible.”