Medicines meant for patients found discarded outside
Shyam Sood
Rajouri, April 1: In Rajouri district’s Manjakote health block, the Health Sub-Center in Agrati was found locked during duty hours, with medicines, reportedly expired, meant for patients discarded in the garbage area outside.
According to reports, on Tuesday, the sub-center was locked during the day, and a News Portal captured a video of the situation, which quickly went viral.
It is said that this sub-center remains locked most of the time, and staff members rarely visit.
When they do, they stay only for a short while before leaving. Due to the absence of healthcare services in the village, even for minor medical issues, residents are forced to travel to Rajouri GMC.
Furthermore, the medicines supplied for patients at the center are not distributed. Instead, they expire and are later discarded.
Reports suggest that unless a Pharmacist/staff member arrives and opens the center, medicines are inaccessible to patients.
This negligence leads to the wastage of essential medicines worth lakhs of rupees, depriving poor patients of their rightful healthcare.
Taking serious note of the matter, Rajouri Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. M.L. Rana has formed a committee to investigate the issue.
“It has come to the notice of the undersigned (CMO) through a report on a social media news portal that Sub-Center Agrati, Block Manjakote, was found locked, and no employee was present at the time of observation. Moreover, hospital supplies (expired medicines) were dumped in the backyard of Sub-Center Agrati,” read the CMO’s order.
The investigation committee includes Dr. Nazmeen Akhter (Medical Officer, CMO Office), Dr. Archana Mahajan (Dental Surgeon, CMO Office), and Kewal (Pharmacist, CMO Office).
The committee has been directed to investigate the matter thoroughly and submit its findings by noon on Wednesday, April 2.
Dr. Rana has assured that strict action will be taken against negligent healthcare workers once the investigation report is submitted.
Notably, on March 26, CMO Rajouri, Dr. M.L. Rana, had initiated an inquiry through a three-member committee after an Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) Sub-Center was found locked at 10 AM and again at 3 PM on March 25, as seen in a viral video on a social media news portal.
