Chandigarh, May 26 -- Despite housing one of the country's largest networks of government-run AMRIT pharmacies and Jan Aushadhi centres, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) procured majority of medicines from private chemist shops in 2024-25, an audit by the Indian Audit and Accounts Department has revealed.

The audit found that 66% of the institute's total medicine purchases in 2024-25 were made from private chemists, even though PGIMER's procurement policy gives first preference to Jan Aushadhi centres and second preference to AMRIT pharmacies. Approved private chemists are meant to be the last procurement option.

According to the audit, procurement from AMRIT pharmacies and Jan Aushadhi centres acco...