As of August 2008, Rs.19.73 crore remained to be recovered from various organisations which had received supplies on credit basis during the period of 1990 to 2008,' the report said.

'More than 53 percent of the outstanding amount was due from the Maharashtra government alone. The Maharashtra government was being reminded regularly and that supply of medicines to them had been stopped till clearance of their dues,' the report added.

The report added: 'More effective action needs to be taken to ensure that dues are cleared promptly so that supply of medicines to government hospitals at economic rates does not suffer.'