India, July 10 -- The Delhi government has begun routing all hospital purchases exclusively through the Central Procurement Agency (CPA), ending the earlier practice of direct procurement by individual hospitals, officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

The move is aimed at "curbing corruption" and "bringing uniformity" to the procurement of medicines, equipment, and other hospital supplies, said at least two officials from the Delhi government's department, requesting anonymity.

While the Delhi government's health department issued an order last month barring hospitals from direct purchases, the system formally went live this week, with CPA clearing its first tender earlier this week for the centralised procurement of linen sup...