There is rigging in the distribution of medicines in Madhya Pradesh. – Symbolic picture.
Highlights
There is confusion in the medicine purchase and distribution system in the state. After sending the samples, it takes 3-4 months for the report to come. This year so far, 13 medicines have been proved to be substandard.
State Bureau, Naiduniya Bhopal. There is a mess in the government’s medicine purchase and distribution system for government hospitals. The medicines are started to be used without getting them tested by a third party. There are instructions to use the medicines by considering the lab quality report given by the medicine supplying company as correct.
In such a situation, after finding a substandard medicine, more than one third of the medicines are consumed before a ban is imposed on their use. The reason is that it takes three to four months from sending the sample to getting the report.
Quality can also be affected if medicines are not stored at the prescribed temperature after supply. The temperature of many medicine stores remains above 35 degrees in summer which should be between 25 to 30. This year so far, 13 medicines have been found to be substandard, last year five were found.
It is mandatory for companies to provide quality reports from NABL accredited labs
In fact, there is a condition for the company supplying the medicine to attach the quality test report of a National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL) accredited lab with the supply of every batch of medicine. Due to this, all the companies get the samples tested from these labs and also send the “OK” report along with the medicine.
After this, when samples are taken by the store keeper or drug inspector and sent for testing, some are found to be substandard. These medicines are used in hospitals affiliated to medical colleges as well as primary health centres. No fee is charged from the patients for the medicines.
Every year medicines worth 400 crores are purchased in the state
Every year medicines worth about 400 crores are purchased in the state. Madhya Pradesh Public Health Supply Corporation purchases medicines from 80 percent of the total budget and if absolutely necessary, CMHO or Civil Surgeon has the authority to purchase medicines from 20 percent of the budget.
Regarding the use of medicines without third party testing, the department officials argue that waiting for the test report will take three to four months, hence the NABL lab report is sought from the company.
Medicines found substandard in central or state labs. Out of the 13 medicines found substandard this year, three were found substandard in Central Drugs Testing Laboratory (CDTL) Kolkata (2), one in CDTL Hyderabad, one in CDTL Indore and the rest were found substandard in MP government’s drug laboratory in Bhopal.