The supply of allegedly subpar, locally manufactured catheters to at least five government hospitals and medical institutes in the state is the subject of an investigation by the West Bengal health department. Significant questions have been raised concerning patient safety and the integrity of hospital procurement procedures in light of the catheters, which were purportedly supplied at exorbitant costs. Despite official allocations for internationally-compliant, high-standard catheters, these central venous catheters (CVCs) were provided, raising the possibility of systemic fraud and poor management.
A distributor from Kolkata’s Hatibagan neighborhood supplied the catheters, and it was found that the locally produced CVCs were significantly inferior to the globally authorized models. Despite having an actual value of about Rs 1,500 per unit, these inferior catheters were purportedly supplied to the hospitals for a far higher price of about Rs 4,177. Concerns that some insiders may have been complicit in the wrongdoing were raised after the subpar catheters were discovered in the storage units of many hospitals, including Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.
According to a top official at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, the subpar catheters were discovered when they inspected their supply. The official instantly notified the state health agency of the disparity and reported that these catheters did not fulfil the necessary quality criteria. Other hospitals reported similar results, suggesting a more widespread problem with the medical equipment supply chain.
Prakash Surgical, the distribution business in charge of providing these catheters, first denied any involvement in the error until acknowledging it and placing the blame on certain staff members. The business asserted that the incorrect product was distributed as a result of a misunderstanding. They did, however, guarantee that any defective devices would be removed from the hospitals. To find out how these inferior catheters were sent to government hospitals and who profited from the exorbitant prices, the health department, however, is taking the issue seriously and has launched a thorough inquiry.
Determining the scope of the problem and identifying those responsible for the misconduct are the goals of the inquiry. Additionally, it aims to determine the potential number of patients impacted by the use of these subpar catheters. Initial investigations point to the potential participation of local representatives of international organizations and hospital employees from the equipment receiving departments, who would have enabled the violations. In order to look into the situation more, a complaint has also been made to the police. The health department has pledged to investigate all impacted units in detail and hold those responsible for the misconduct accountable.
SOURCE :
MEDICAL DIALOGUES
