Expired Drugs, Lab Reagents Found At Govt Doctor’s Private Hospital In Sangareddy
Dr Ramesh was recently suspended for allegedly allowing a private person to perform his night-duty responsibilities at the Jogipet hospital.
Hyderabad: A health department inspection of KBR Life Care Hospital at Pothireddypally in Sangareddy district, belonging to Dr K. Ramesh, deputy civil Ssurgeon at Jogipet Area Hospital, has found multiple alleged violations, including expired laboratory reagents and medicines, improper biomedical waste segregation and an ultrasound machine being operated in violation of prescribed norms.
Dr Ramesh was recently suspended for allegedly allowing a private person to perform his night-duty responsibilities at the Jogipet hospital.
According to the inspection findings, nearly 75 per cent of the laboratory reagents were found to have expired. Officials said conducting tests with expired reagents could affect test results and pose a risk to patients.
The inspection team also found that the hospital was not following prescribed biomedical waste segregation procedures. The laboratory was subsequently sealed by the officials.
Expired drugs and anaesthesia-related medicines were also found in the operation theatre (OT). Officials reportedly found pre-filled syringes and drugs stored in the OT and refrigerator without proper identification. Citing patient safety concerns, the authorities sealed the operation theatres and directed that no surgical procedures be conducted until further orders.
The inspection also flagged violations in the hospital's ultrasound facility. Officials found a mobile ultrasound machine inside the operation theatre and subsequently sealed the ultrasound room.
Further action was proposed under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act and Rules, according to the inspection findings.
The inspection team also collected what it described as key records indicating that Dr Ramesh may have been attending patients at his private hospital during his government duty hours. Hospital case sheets reportedly recorded Dr Ramesh as having examined patients in the morning. The records were seized and kept for further investigation.
Officials are also investigating the role of another government-employed gynaecologist.
As five in-patients were present at the hospital during the inspection, officials decided against immediately shutting down the entire facility, prioritising their safety. The hospital was directed not to admit any new patients or conduct surgeries.
The DMHO instructed the management to provide necessary treatment to the five existing patients and ensure that they are safely discharged within 48 hours.
The health department has sealed the laboratory, operation theatres and ultrasound facility, while OP and IP records have been taken into the custody of the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO).