Sale of expired surgical equipment, consumables
The officials of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura have gone to a new low to cover up their frauds and medical negligence by allegedly faking a burglary in the institute’s Drug Store, a day after exposing the fraud.
On April 3, this newspaper has carried news about sale of expired surgical equipment and consumables by the SKIMS at its Drug Counters.
As per official sources, the surgical equipment and consumables like Endoscopy Band, Platelet Theresis Set, and Prolene Mesh were being sold beyond their expiry dates in the J&K’s premier medical institute.
And the hospital administration has asked Chief Pharmacist to sell the stock to people after re-sterilization, as per doctors.
On April 4, the officials of Drug and Pharmacy Department raised ‘hue and cry’ at SKIMS Drug store to pretend that burglar had broke open the store.
Soon after the incident, Chief Pharmacist of SKIMS registered a complaint in Police Station Soura. However, the security officials of SKIMS are probing the involvement of drug department officials because the majority of the stock is safe in the store.
Sources said the burglary wasn’t possible in the drug store as it is located in the basement of the Drug counters and remained under close vigil of officials 24/7.
“The store also contains huge stock of medicines and equipment along with their documental records, indents and supply orders,” they said.
According to sources, the records regarding expired and substandard equipment and consumables was also kept in the store. However, the documents have been removed from there.
“When the fraud by Drug Department was exposed, the involved officials decided to fake the burglary to hide the evidence against them to save themselves from Internal Enquiry,” said an official, wishing anonymity.
Although, SKIMS officials submitted a complaint but police are yet to register the FIR.
A police official wishing anonymity told that the claim of SKIMS officials was suspicious because the doors and windows were not broken.
“The claim by SKIMS officials is highly suspicious so we will first investigate the veracity of the claim,” he said.
