Lucknow: Over 2 lakh expired medicines found in Dr. RML Hospital, Dy CM orders probe

Lucknow: Over 2.4 lakh expired medicines were found stocked in the medicine store of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) by Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak on Thursday during his inspection, following which he ordered a probe into the same.   

As per a media report in the Hindustan Times, Pathak, who reached the Lohia institute campus on Thursday has ordered a probe into the incident after finding out about the expired medicines and ordered strict action against those found guilty. He began searching for the expired medicines from the drug distribution counters and scanned records kept in the store room. During his inspection which went on for around 45 minutes, he counted nearly 322 pages consisting of the list of expired medicines worth ₹50 lakh. 

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The minister sought responsibility for this, and an explanation as to why those medicines could not be returned back to the manufacturing firms to get other medicines in exchange. However, the officials including the director of the institute Dr. Soniya Nityanand did not give any satisfactory answer to this. 

A list of around 2,48,668 expired medicines was found from the premises, which were reportedly stored there for the last 5 years.

As per a media report in the Times of India, the inquiry into the incident would be taken up by the medical education secretary GS Priyadarshi as per the press statement issued from the minister's office. The probe would be focusing on why the medicines were not given to patients or returned to the manufacturing firms to get other medicines in exchange. Pathak said, "I had asked for a list of medicines available at RMLIMS's store. On seeing that, I found that more than 2.4 lakh medicines were lying unused and had reached their expiration date instead of being used in time on patients."

As per rules, unused medicines are required to be returned to the concerned companies before they get expired. However, the store in charge and the medicine procurement in charge of RMLIMS failed to take this in view. Pathak said, "This has caused huge loss to the state exchequer. I have ordered an inquiry and action will be taken against those at fault."

Pathak told HT, "Lohia hospital purchases medicines via revolving fund. This system provides medicine to patients at cheaper rates. But neither the patients got these medicines nor could they be returned back."

In a video clip of the inspection of the drug store carried out by the Pathak, it is claimed that the expiration of around 5,000 medicines would cost the state exchequer around Rs 50 lakh, reports the TOI. A formal audit of the whole lot is pending. 

Meanwhile, Pathak also inspected medical and treatment facilities at the institute and expressed satisfaction with that. He met with patients and their attendants and made inquiries from elderly attendants of patients who were admitted to the facility. He also inspected the institute's canteen and kitchen services.

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