After over a tonne of medicines was discarded at Koppal KIMS and more stock was found awaiting disposal, a chemists’ body has sought a statewide probe into drug procurement, storage and distribution practices at govt medical college hospitals
Koppal: The disposal of 1,033 kg of medicines at Koppal Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) has triggered allegations of irregularities in drug procurement and stock management, prompting the Suvarna Karnataka Chemist and Distributors Association to seek a statewide probe. Salim Alwandi, a member of the KIMS administrative board, alleged that medicines procured during 2024-25 for Koppal Medical College Hospital and Mother and Child Hospital were sent to a biomedical waste disposal facility on April 15, 2026, following verbal instructions from the KIMS director. The issue gained significance after another two to three tonnes of medicines were reportedly found in the hospital storehouse awaiting disposal.
Meanwhile, the chemists’ association submitted a representation to the principal secretary and commissioner of the department of health and medical education, seeking a comprehensive investigation into medicine procurement, quality checks, storage and disposal at Koppal KIMS and other govt medical college hospitals. The body questioned the absence of records identifying who recommended purchases and under whose prescriptions the medicines were distributed. It also alleged that drug control officers lacked adequate powers to inspect hospital pharmacies and seek records. Ashokswamy Heroor, chairperson of the association’s legal cell, sought action against those responsible, mandatory drug licences for govt hospital pharmacies, enhanced powers for drug control officers, and a mechanism to transfer medicines nearing expiry to hospitals where they could still be used.