Nagpur : Mayo hospital dean Dr Sanjay Bijwe on Monday formed a five-member inquiry committee to probe the sting operation that caught a pharmacy agent illegally selling medicines to patients inside the wards. Mayo hospital also sent a written complaint to Tehsil police, but cops refused to register an FIR till late on Monday evening without a complaint by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). The FDA, however, said the police were competent to act on a complaint by Mayo hospital.
Sources said several doctors and nurses are under scanner as the four heads of the departments (orthopaedic, medicines, ophthalmology and pharmacology) have been roped in to conduct the inquiry. Sources said the committee has been urged to submit a preliminary inquiry report within 24-48 hours.
Dean Dr Bijwe said the matter was ‘highly sensitive’, said he would ensure none is spared.
TOI had published the sting operation done in ward number 44 of Mayo hospital on February 15 by the Nagpur District Chemists and Druggists Association. The association had handed over the private pharmacy agent supplying medicines to wards to the authorities.
The Mayo hospital authorities sent a written complaint to Tehsil police station and also informed Zonal DCP Gorakh Bhamre about the trespasser selling medicines illegally. Police refused to take cognizance of the complaint from Mayo hospital, though the agent was caught red-handed supplying medicines to patients in the ward without prescription and bills.
Zonal DCP Bhamre said anyone can enter a government premises freely. “As Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) is not filing any complaint, police will not take any action too,” said Bhamre, adding he is supervising the case. “I will consult Mayo hospital and FDA for further action,” he said.
Tehsil police sent a letter to Mayo hospital on Sunday, though the incident was reported to the cops four days ago, on February 15, asking the hospital about the episode and seeking details about their internal inquiry.
A senior FDA official said police should have accepted the FIR from Mayo hospital. “FDA will take action as per the norms, but Mayo hospital or the persons who nabbed the agent are competent to give a FIR, which police should register and probe the matter,” he said.
FDA sources said they intended to send a letter to Mayo hospital seeking information about the sale of medicines in the ward by a private person. FDA drug inspector Neeraj Lohkare said he intends to issue a show cause notice to the pharmacy for irregularities. “The agent apparently did not have prescriptions or bills when caught selling medicines in the ward. The pharmacy owners too did not have any bills or records when we visited the shop, but next day he produced all the documents,” said Lohkare.
The members of Nagpur District Druggists and Chemists Association said FDA and police gave a lot of time to the pharmacy owner to produce bills, which were not present at his shop. “FDA takes action immediately on pharmacies if they do not find bills or documents at the outlet, but allowed this pharmacy owner to bring them on the next day from home,” said a member.
