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CM's panel doesn't find expired medicines at Patiala hospital
The two-member committee sent by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to inspect the stock at Rajindra Hospital found no expired drugs in the stock, raising many questions. Taking note of the news reports about the expired drugs found in the supply of the emergency ward of the hospital, the chief minister on Wednesday sent the committee to inspect the stock.
The two-member committee sent by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to inspect the stock at Rajindra Hospital found no expired drugs in the stock, raising many questions.
Taking note of the news reports about the expired drugs found in the supply of the emergency ward of the hospital, the chief minister on Wednesday sent the committee to inspect the stock.
The team comprising Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) managing director Husan Lal and Director Medical Education and Research Dr Tejveer Singh "did not find any expired drugs" in the stock.
"In the stock checked by us, no expired drug was found," Husan Lal told Hindustan Times.
However, the committee found that contrary to the claims by medical superintendent Dr VK Sharda that the drugs shown by the media with the expired dates had arrived through the PHSC, the committee found that the drugs were procured by the hospital. This was confirmed by Husan Lal.
Staff nurse Parminder Kamboj, who had reportedly refused to accept the stock of expired medicines in Ward Number 1 in the Emergency, stood by her word before the committee.
In the presence of the media, she told the committee that the supply of the medicines which she objected to, was issued to her even without her consent in the intent book. The committee found storekeeper Ripudaman's signature in the intent book, whereas the staff nurse's signature is mandatory for issuance of medicines from the hospital.
"Since, the news reports showed pictures of the expired drugs, keeping in view the seriousness of the matter, we have asked for details of the purchase of medicines, stock books and their issuance to the patients. Only then, things will become clear," Husan Lal said.
MS blames media
The MS told the committee that the media had planted fake stories about the expired medicines to tarnish his image.
"I don't entertain mediapersons at the hospital, so these stories have been planted. The pictures shown in the reports are manipulated and have been clicked outside the hospital," he alleged.
Enough time for hospital to replace expired drugs
Since the matter of the expired drugs found in the hospital came to light on Monday and the committee checked the stock on Wednesday, there was enough time for the hospital to replace or shift the expired medicines from the store.
Sources said as soon as the controversy arose, the MS took the keys of the room where the expired stock was found from the staff nurse on duty.
Husan Lal said the life-saving drugs in question were procured by the hospital, and not through the PHSC, so changing the stock was easy, since the PHSC supplies carried its stamp, whereas local purchases did not have any such mark on the supply.
The hospital authorities have also failed to reply as to what was the need for sanctioning such a big supply of medicines to the emergency ward, more than what the staff nurse had intended.
