Sub-standard medicines given to pregnant women
The Committee on Public Accounts presented a report to Parliament stating that a stock of 552,452 Mn Folic Acid tablets, usually given to pregnant women, has been recommended for disposal due to its low quality. However, 98% of the stock has already been issued to patients by then.
The medication was purchased for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015. Almost Rs. 10 Mn has been spent on purchasing the medicine.
Meanwhile, a stock of vaccines worth Rs. 4 Mn was deemed unsuitable for use to its sub-standard nature but the vaccines were already expired by the time the Circular was issued in that regard. 99% of vaccines were used by then.
Health Ministry officials speaking at the COPA meeting stated that if there was a method of identifying sub-