Maharashtra to Conduct Third-Party Medicine Audits, says Health Minister Prakash Abitkar

Mumbai: To enhance accountability in the healthcare system, the Maharashtra government has decided to conduct third-party testing of medicines supplied through the state's medical goods procurement authority. 

This decision was taken after the tragedy at government-run Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital in Maharashtra's Nanded where 31 patients who were undergoing treatment at the hospital died in 48 hours between September 30, 2023, and October 02, 2023. 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that among the deceased, 24 patients including 12 newborns died between September 30 and October 1 and seven more patients passed away between October 1 and 2, 2023. 

Also read- 31 deaths in 48 hours at Nanded Govt Hospital, probe ordered

There were allegations that the patients died due to a shortage of medicines or doctors. However, the government flagged the reasons behind the deaths as heavy inflow of patients, referral from private and smaller hospitals and patients being brought in extremely critical condition.

A review meeting was held on Wednesday with officials from various arms of the public health department, including the CEO of Maharashtra Medical Goods Procurement Agency (MMGPA), Chandrakant Dange, who was appointed soon after the Nanded deaths.

Taking part in the meeting, Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar directed that samples of medicines supplied through the Maharashtra Medical Goods Procurement Authority should be checked in a third-party manner, as per the UNI news agency report. 

Abitkar said the hospitals should be provided with good quality medicines from reputed companies. The 'drug content' of the currently given medicines should be checked. He also said the emphasis will be on providing quality healthcare facilities to the people of the state through excellent medical treatment, medicines and ancillary services.

The Maharashtra Medical Supplies Procurement Authority should be empowered and the necessary manpower should be made available for it. The rate agreements entered into by the authorities with the companies should be checked.

An official from the state health department told the press as reported by TOI, "Ambitkar said manpower would be increased in MMGPA and strict action would be taken against the supplier or the procurement authority officials if discrepancies are found. He directed that hospitals should provide high-quality medicines from reputed companies and verify the ‘drug content' of existing medicines."

A specific procedure should be developed to ensure quality medicines are available to poor patients. Strict action should be taken against those concerned if found guilty in the examination of drug samples, Abitkar said.

According to the Bombay Nursing Act, registered hospitals have to publish their examination and facility rates in prominent form in the hospitals. Care should be taken that the patients are not cheated financially in any way, he added. 

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