Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 19: In a disconcerting development, the Jan Aushadhi store located at District Hospital Kulgam has come under scrutiny for providing drugs that are not on the approved list, casting doubts on the quality of the medications and potential risks to patients. The situation has raised concerns among people who are seeking an investigation.
One particular drug of Paracetamol infusion is reportedly being dispensed to patients from the store, despite not being included in the official Jan Aushadhi drug list. Moreover, the hospital authorities have received complaints regarding fungal contamination in this drug, which was being used until the hospital administration asked the doctors not to.
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Insiders familiar with the situation revealed that the issue of fungus contamination-after it came to the fore-was shared among doctors, instructing them not to utilize the drug, noting that the instance raises questions about how the drug found its way into the hands of patients when it was not officially approved for distribution.
Adding to the controversy, the Paracetamol infusion is being sold to patients for Rs 51, while other suppliers reportedly offer the same drug at a lower cost of Rs 31. However, the primary concern remains the quality of the drug and how it managed to enter the Jan Aushadhi supply chain.
It is worth noting that drugs supplied through the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Aushadhi Yojana to Jan Aushadhi Stores undergo rigorous quality testing before reaching the end-users. However, the inclusion of Paracetamol infusion, a non-approved drug, raises doubts about the effectiveness and safety of medications distributed under the government’s people-centric scheme under which drugs are not only low cost but also effective.
Acknowledging the issue, the hospital authorities have assured the public that the matter will be thoroughly investigated.
Dr Gulzar Ahmad, the Medical Superintendent of DH Kulgam, stated: “We have received complaints about fungal contamination in the drug, and we have ceased its use. The drug was sourced from Jan Aushadi, and we will investigate how this incident occurred; we will also see how it entered the supply chain.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Kulgam has also said that a comprehensive probe will be carried out into the matter to ensure accountability and prevent such incidents from recurring.
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