'Surgical care products fail quality tests'

Four samples of surgical care products lifted for random tests from Delhi government hospitals till March this year have failed to meet the “standard quality”, according to an RTI reply by the Drugs Control Department. The reports of medicines in 33 cases are pending.

Of 53 samples taken for testing across hospitals, four products have failed the test. While 16 medicines and surgical care products met the standard.

Cotton bandage rolls from the state-run Acharya Shree Bhikshu Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Rao Tula Ram Memorial Hospital and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital were found to be of “sub-standard” quality.

“The sample size is inadequate to give a clear picture of the medicines and other essentials which are not of the desired quality. There is a need to increase the sample size and lift random samples from hospitals across the city so that quality product is mentioned. Most importantly, the status report in 33 cases is pending,” said R H Bansal, an RTI activist.

Bansal had sought response from the Drugs Control Department on July 14 and received the response on August 13.

In 2013-2014, 80 samples were tested and in 2012-2013, 37 samples lifted for quality control. In 2011-12 and 2012-2013, 46 and 37 samples were tested respectively. 

Last year, seven samples failed the test. They were collected from Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Lok Nayak Hospital, AIIMS and in a dispensary in Chandni Chowk. The drugs which were found to be below standard are Aspirin, Albendazole, Salbutamol and Dicyclomine, among others.