KGMU Lucknow to Revolutionize Medicine Access with Bedside Delivery System
Attendants of patients at King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow may soon be relieved from the exhausting daily ordeal of standing in prolonged queues for essential medications. The hospital is implementing a groundbreaking initiative to deliver drugs directly to patients' bedsides through its Hospital Revolving Fund (HRF), aiming to streamline healthcare delivery and prevent treatment delays.
Ending the Queue Struggle for Timely Care
Currently, attendants frequently spend hours waiting outside HRF counters to purchase medicines, a delay that can critically impact timely medical intervention. On Tuesday, KGMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Sonia Nityanand announced, "The proposed facility will ensure treatment is not delayed and the system is expected to be in place within six months." This move addresses a persistent bottleneck in patient care, enhancing efficiency across the hospital's operations.
How the New Medicine Delivery System Will Operate
The innovative process involves doctors in wards prescribing medicines, with hospital staff then placing online orders via the HRF for each patient. A prepared medicine packet will be delivered directly to the ward by Medi Mitra personnel, and payments will be automatically deducted from the patient's account. KGMU is adopting a comprehensive hospital information system where every patient receives a unique ID-based account.
For paid patients, they will deposit an initial amount, and expenses for medicines and investigations will be deducted accordingly. For patients covered under government schemes, the university will deposit the necessary funds into their accounts, ensuring seamless financial transactions without burdening families.
Surge in Demand for Affordable HRF Medicines
The demand for HRF medicines has escalated dramatically in recent years as more patients opt for cost-effective alternatives. Prof Nityanand highlighted that the availability of medicines at HRF has improved from a mere 20–30% earlier to nearly 80% today. Currently, approximately 4,100 outpatients purchase medicines from HRF daily, a significant increase from 2,500 previously, with drugs priced 30–70% lower than market rates.
Exponential Growth in HRF Medicine Sales
Discussing the HRF's performance, the KGMU VC revealed that medicine sales skyrocketed from Rs 111 crore in the financial year 2023–24 to Rs 185 crore in 2024–25, reaching Rs 256 crore in 2025–26. This represents an impressive growth of nearly 125% over two years. Presently, medicines worth around Rs 25 crore are sold monthly, compared to Rs 8–9 crore in earlier periods, underscoring the fund's expanding role in affordable healthcare.
This bedside delivery initiative not only promises to alleviate logistical hassles for attendants but also reinforces KGMU's commitment to enhancing patient-centric services through technological integration and operational excellence.
