United Hospital fined for selling date expired drugs ‘for long’

The authorities of the United Hospital have long been using medicines past their sell-by dates to treat patients. This malpractice came to light yesterday during a drive conducted by a mobile court of the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

The RAB fined the hospital Tk. 20 lakh for using expired re-agents (identification chemicals), purchasing medicines from unapproved agents and procuring expired medicines. At the same time, the mobile court issued a 15-day ultimatum to remove the expired medicines and other medical materials.

RAB's executive magistrate Md Sarwar Alam, who led the mobile court, told The Independent that the United Hospital authorities had been using expired medicine and spurious medical materials for treatment. “We conducted the drive to check the machinery of the hospital and to find out if the authorities were selling substandard or expired medicine,” he said.

“We found that the hospital has a substandard supply line for medicines and low-grade stuff. Its suppliers do not have any legal documents,” he added.

Sarwar Alam also said: “If the expired pharmaceuticals and other medical materials are not changed and removed during 15 days, we'll ask the authorities to cancel the hospital's ISO certification."

The RAB mobile court started its operation started around yesterday noon. Senior officials of the Department of Health and Drug Administration were also present.  The mobile court found that the hospital authorities purchased drugs from sellers or agents who have no legal or valid documents.

On February 19, the mobile court had fined Apollo Hospital and Pharmacy Tk. 5 lakh for using expired chemical reagents in the lab and selling substandard medicines.

United Hospital fined for selling date expired drugs for long

The authorities of the United Hospital have long been using medicines past their sell-by dates to treat patients. This malpractice came to light yesterday during a drive conducted by a mobile court of the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The RAB fined the hospital Tk. 20 lakh for using expired re-agents (identification chemicals), purchasing medicines from unapproved agents and procuring expired medicines. At the same time, the mobile court issued a 15-day ultimatum to remove the expired medicines and other medical materials. RABs executive magistrate Md Sarwar Alam, who led the mobile court, told The Independent that the United Hospital authorities had been using expired medicine and spurious medical materials for treatment. We conducted the drive to check the machinery of the hospital and to find out if the authorities were selling substandard or expired medicine, he said. We found that the hospital has a substandard supply line for medicines and low-grade stuff. Its suppliers do not have any legal documents, he added. Sarwar Alam also said: If the expired pharmaceuticals and other medical materials are not changed and removed during 15 days, well ask the authorities to cancel the hospitals ISO certification. The RAB mobile court started its operation started around yesterday noon. Senior officials of the Department of Health and Drug Administration were also present. The mobile court found that the hospital authorities purchased drugs from sellers or agents who have no legal or valid documents. On February 19, the mobile court had fined Apollo Hospital and Pharmacy Tk. 5 lakh for using expired chemical reagents in the lab and selling substandard medicines.