Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Huge quantities of vital medicines meant for the poor are being kept as waste outside the designated drug store at the District Hospital. The medicines are kept in the open without necessary protection, causing them to spoil. The neglected stock comprises essential medicines with expiry dates extending to 2028.
The store, under the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), is responsible for distributing these medicines to hospitals and health centres across the district.
However, negligence by those in charge has led to delays in distribution, leaving both medicine and essential equipment like stretchers and beds unused and exposed to damage.
Meanwhile, the hospital staff said the drug store lacks basic security measures, with no staff to monitor access and no CCTV cameras. Medicine and equipment are kept behind an unsecured iron gate, accessible to anyone. Acknowledging the issue, CMHO Dr BS Saitya stated, “There is limited space in the store, but instructions have been given for timely distribution. The facility will be relocated to the new district hospital once completed.”
Dr Saitya also directed the store in-charge to shift the medicines to a secure place and distribute them to the blocks immediately.
Similar conditions in many districts
The negligence of storing medicines is not confined to Indore as similar reports have emerged from other districts, where government-provided free medicines deteriorate instead of reaching the intended beneficiaries. Patients often bear the financial burden of buying medicines from private stores due to their unavailability at government facilities.
