| 4. In which ways is the initiative creative and innovative?
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The XLN project was totally implemented in 4 phases namely 1. Licensing 2. Laboratory 3. Legal Modules and lastly the MIS / RTI / LAQ related compiled Reports & Querying Tools.
With the help of the following elements, over a period of time, XLN has gradually evolved as rugged and stable tool :
1. Gujarat State Wide Area Network (GSWAN), the required hardware support, funds for manpower for preparing IT solution and funds for mass SMS were provided by the Government of Gujarat.
2. With technical help provided by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Gujarat and NIC’s central server enabled the storage of data, mirroring of data and regular backups.
3. Active participation and firm determination of FDCA and NIC officers for implementation of XLN.
4. Integration between all stakeholders.
5. On request from other State Drugs Controllers, in order to promote and protect public health, Government of Gujarat allowed complimentary replication of XLN in other states. XLN has been successfully replicated in seven States of India and other requests from six other states are under process covering almost 70% geographical area of the country.
XLN Chronology:
1. Gujarat State Wide Area Network (GSWAN) across the state.
2. Government of Gujarat provided hardware infrastructure to all district offices.
3. National Informatics Centre, Government of India extended technical support to system requirements, its analysis, database designing, the development part & other technical aspects.
4. All Circle Offices were instructed to key in the legacy data of existing firms as on 31st December, 2006.
5. 1st January 2007 onwards, all Circle Offices were instructed to process all applications related to Pharmacies through XLN only.
6. Gujarat State Pharmacy Council’s data of Registered Pharmacists was linked with XLN.
7. Gujarat Medical Services Corporation Ltd. (GSMCL) also linked to XLN.
8. All Drugs Inspectors and Senior Drugs Inspectors were instructed to key in the details of samples drawn by them for test & analysis and generate mandatory forms through XLN.
9. XLN linked to Drug Laboratory and Test Results of drug samples keyed in XLN and later on facility to upload scanned copy of Test Report added.
10. Information is made available on the public domain for the benefit of citizens.
11. Active interaction with various stakeholders and inviting their suggestion for XLN.
12. Replication of XLN in other states.
13. Blood Banks were asked to key in Stocks of each blood group’s Blood Bags and Blood Components available with them every day in the morning and the information is also made available in public domain.
14. Participation in various state level and national level competitive Awards, and thereby inviting expert juries for evaluation of XLN and their valuable suggestions.
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| 5. Who implemented the initiative and what is the size of the population affected by this initiative?
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Stakeholders of XLN are : All circle offices of FDCA, FDCA’s Head Office, Food & Drug Laboratory (FDL), Gujarat Medical Services Corporation Ltd. (earlier known as Central Medical Stores Organization - CMSO) (Government of Gujarat’s central drug purchasing & distributing agency to all Government hospitals & dispensaries), Gujarat State Pharmacy Council, Pharmacies (Retailers) and Wholesalers of drugs, Blood Banks and most importantly citizens.
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| 6. How was the strategy implemented and what resources were mobilized?
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1. Gujarat State Wide Area Network (GSWAN) across the state.
2. Internet connectivity obtained through special permission from Government of Gujarat for few district offices where GSWAN connectivity was not available.
3. Optimum usage of limited computers and printers available with FDCA.
4. Vast experience of FDCA officers to streamline various procedures to bring harmony throughout the State.
5. National Informatics Centre, Gujarat’s Team’s technical expertise for system requirements, its analysis, database designing, the development part & other technical aspects.
6. Central Server hosting, mirroring of data and regular backups by NIC.
7. Arranging brainstorming workshops with FDCA officers, specially end users, and NIC team at regular intervals to upgrade the XLN.
8. Encouraging the users to communicate their feedback / suggestion through e-talk with the NIC team.
9. Encouraging the users to communicate with users of other districts through e-talk.
10. Though the software development & server hosting was done by Government of India’s department - NIC, NIC was required to appoint software engineers for several months to assist the NIC team and FDCA made payment of approx. Rs. 10,00,000 (Approx. US $ 20,000) as their salary. The funds were provided by the Government of Gujarat.
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| 7. Who were the stakeholders involved in the design of the initiative and in its implementation?
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1. Eradication of illegal multiple enrollment of pharmacists resulting better compliance of law.
2. Improved expedition of various applications: transparent, accountable, harmonized and incorrupt procedures, inspection, reporting and decision taking within time frame following FIFO principle with no red tapism & bureaucracy, better monitoring, intimation of the status of application through SMS and online access, printing of e-Licenses by applicant.
3. Mass SMS alerts for “Not of Standard Quality Drug” (NSQ) sent to all dealers, Government Hospitals, GMSCL, Drugs Inspectors, Drugs Controllers of other States, media personnel ensures immediate stoppage of consumption of such NSQ drug and protection of public health.
4. Information made available in public domain on XLN’s web site includes NSQ drugs, pharmacies, Blood Banks, upcoming Blood Donation camps, availability of particular Blood Group and Blood Component etc. On the basis of the batch no. of the drug purchased, it can be verified whether the drug has been declared as NSQ through the XLN website and also by sending a SMS [XLN BAT Batch no.] to 9227500958. Other information on demand, through SMS, includes Reg. Pharmacist’s name and current location, availability of particular Blood Group in nearby Blood Banks. The applicant can also get status of his/her application information on demand, through SMS.
5. Display of real time ranking of all Circle Offices on the basis of their performances resulted into a very rare phenomenon of internal competition among government officers for better ranking.
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| 8. What were the most successful outputs and why was the initiative effective?
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1. Arranging brain storming workshops with FDCA officers, specially end users, and NIC team at regular intervals to upgrade the XLN.
2. Encouraging the users to communicate their feedback / suggestion through e-talk with NIC team.
3. Encouraging the users to communicate with users of other districts through e-talk.
4. Incorporation of suggestions received from other States where XLN has been replicated.
5. Incorporation of suggestions made by juries during spot visits of FDCA for various awards like “National e-Governance Award”, “Prime Minister’s Award for Public Administration” etc.
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| 9. What were the main obstacles encountered and how were they overcome?
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1. GSWAN connectivity was not available in some of the Circle offices located in private buildings. Government of Gujarat granted special permission to obtain broad band internet connections to overcome this problem.
2. Government Officers and Clerical staff were not computer ready. They were sent for computer training conducted by the Government training institutes.
3. Some of the Government Officers and Clerical staff were unenthusiastic to use the XLN but Commissioner FDCA had personally pursued the implementation of XLN with firm determination.
4. Computers and printers provided by Government were not sufficient as compared to the work. FDCA Officers had to wait for availability of computer even after office hours to complete the task. Continuous follow up by Commissioner FDCA for sanction of more computers and printers has overcome the obstacle to a considerable extent.
5. Existing dealers were also issued user IDs and passwords to access the online information related to their firms, process online application and update their cell numbers. With the help of the local Chemist & Druggist Association and local FDCA officers, XLN has been able to build up the data base of mobile numbers.
6. As a part of extension of public service, it was decided to upload information of upcoming Blood Donation camps, Blood Stocks of each blood groups available with Blood Banks. All Blood Banks were personally contacted by the Circle Officers and they were given user IDs and passwords to key in daily stock of each blood group’s Blood Bags available with them. Constant pursuance by FDCA officer, Blood Banks’ willingness and positive response from citizens are the key to success for this project.
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