Distribution of expired meds: Probe ordered

Karal.Marx@timesgroup.com

Vellore:  20.06.2020

A probe has been initiated by the Ranipet administration to find out if ‘expired’ multi-vitamins were distributed to residents in a Covid-19 containment zone in Sholinghur town panchayat in the district.

A district health officer said on the condition of anonymity that a female nurse working at Gururajapettai primary health centre and a resident of Sholinghur tested positive for Covid on Tuesday. To contain the spread, health and revenue officials sealed the fourth ward where the nurse was residing and declared it a containment zone.

Five neighbours were quarantined in their houses and provided immunity rich tablets, including Zinc and Vitamin C. Health workers attached to Sholinghur PHC distributed the multi-vitamins to occupants of the five houses, said a district health officer, not willing to be quoted.

A local resident, who witnessed the distribution of the multi-vitamins, said, “The incident took place on Thursday after the Zinc tablets distributed by the health workers were found to have expired. We found that the tablets were manufactured in February 2018 and it had expired in January 2020.”

When residents questioned the health workers, they said the expired tablet strips had somehow got into the package along with other medicines which had expiry date as April 2021.

“Though the health workers apologised profusely for the mistake and took back the expired tablets from us, we are worried that this may be happening in other containment zones too. The district administration should probe the issue,” said the resident, seeking anonymity.

When contacted by TOI, Ranipet district collector S Divyadarshini said, “We have demanded an explanation from the health staff who were involved in the distribution.

A team headed by Ranipet joint director health I Yasmin and district health officer Velmurugan have been directed to probe the matter. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against the person if the allegations are found true,” said the collector.

Ranipet district health officer Velmurugan said, “Following complaints from residents of Sholinghur 4th ward, we are conducting a door-to-door check in the containment zones. So far, we have not found any multivitamins that were distributed to be expired. An inquiry is on with the health workers and drug in-charge of Sholinghur PHC,” he said.