Posts of in-charges lying vacant since 2011
Mumbai : Two crucial posts of superintendent and deputy superintendent in civic hospitals were scrapped by the BMC in 2011 after which they lie vacant in 21 peripheral hospitals of Mumbai. These persons are in-charge of ascertaining the quality of medicines received by the hospitals. They are also in-charge of keeping tab of expired medicines in the hospital’s stock.
These officers are responsible for testing the quality and authenticity of medicines received by the hospital. Shiv Sena corporator Anuradha Pednekar said 21 peripheral hospitals in Mumbai don’t have these officers which can pose a serious health hazard.
She said, Sion Hospital and Nair Hospital have one post out of two vacant. Only KEM hospital has both the officials. However, when these officials retire, there will be no one to take care of their duties as the posts have already been abolished.
She attributed the BMC-run Bhabha and Rajawadi hospital tragedy where patients had a severe allergic reactions to anti-biotic injections that had been spoiled in storage to lack of a check and balance mechanism. She said, “It is the superintendent and deputy superintendent’s job to ensure that medicines administered to patients are safe. If these posts are abolished, we are exposing the patience to serious danger.” She added that the only response given by the BMC about this topic is that they do not need these posts anymore and the job can be done by head pharmacist.
