NGOs under Govt scanner for illegally providing free medicines at Ludhiana Civil Hospital

Ludhiana: Several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) engaged in providing free medicines to patients inside the Ludhiana civil hospital have come under the government's scanner after it has been reported that they are illegally supplying the medications without obtaining the necessary drug licence. 

The NGO'S reportedly do not have the required drug licence, a pharmacist in their team or permission from the health facility and are continuing to function in ignorance. 

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Several NGOs have set up their stall within the hospital premises and have been distributing medicines for the past 10-15 days. They reportedly set up the stalls without taking permission from the hospital authorities. The NGOs that are providing free medicines have been identified as Ek Noor, Samvedna, Nikhil Trust, Reh Raas Sewa Society, Sarb Sukh Sewa Foundation and Ek Zaria.

As per the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940, anyone engaging in the sale, purchase, or storage of medicines in large quantities are required to obtain the necessary drug license. 

Confirming that they are providing the services without approval from the health department, a member of Ek Zaria said, "Our organisation helps those in need by covering the costs of their medicine bills. We do not keep any medicine with us. The civil hospital is a government facility. We don’t have any permission to install our setup in the premises. We are just providing our services to the people in need." 

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Sukhwinder Kaur, founder of Sarb Sukh Sewa Foundation said, "We are just helping the people from past 9 years. We provide medicines to needy people which are not available in the hospital pharmacy." 

According to some sources, some NGOs are distributing medicines to people without any prescription slips. Zonal licencing Authority (ZLA) Kulwinder Singh said that the matter did not come to his notice so far. He said, "This is illegal and punishable offence. We will definitely take action against violators." 

Drug inspector Gurpreet Singh has decided to inspect the area and take action against those who are violating the rules. Senior medical officer of the civil hospital Dr Amarjit Kaur said, "I have not given any permission to these NGOs to sit inside our hospital premises. It came to our notice that these NGOs are dispensing medicine to public illegally." 

Dr Kaur said, "We held a meeting under assistant civil surgeon Dr Vivek Kataria in my office on Thursday and issued a warning to all NGOs." Further, she added, "It is illegal and punishable to dispense or store medicines without drugs licence as per Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. We will take strict action if any NGO will be found violating the law."