Chandigarh’s Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) is facing scrutiny after an internal investigation revealed that a cashier, not a qualified pharmacist, dispensed prescription medicine at the institute’s Amrit and Generic pharmacy. The incident, which took place on February 18, 2024, came to light following a complaint from a Panchkula resident who alleged that the wrong medicine was given at a higher rate by unqualified staff.
A four-member inquiry committee confirmed that the pharmacist on duty was away in the washroom when the transaction occurred. In the pharmacist’s absence, the cashier handed over a strip of Dtoin without verifying a prescription, in direct violation of standard medical dispensing protocols. The committee further noted that the bill was generated without recording the patient’s name, another breach of standard procedure.
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Complaint Raises Questions, But Key Evidence Missing
According to the complainant, his driver had been sent to the pharmacy with a text message specifying the required drug. However, the committee found inconsistencies during its probe. The original message was never produced despite repeated requests, preventing verification of what was actually shown at the counter.
Curiously, while the medicine provided and the bill matched in listing Dtoin, the prescription the complainant later shared mentioned Drotin, a different drug entirely. This discrepancy raised doubts about whether the medicine dispensed was indeed incorrect.
In its findings, the committee concluded that without the original message, it could not definitively establish that wrong dispensing took place. However, it flagged the act of a cashier dispensing prescription medication as a serious breach of protocol, recommending necessary action against the pharmacy’s management. The committee also clarified that comparing the price charged with online market rates fell outside its purview, and thus, no comment was made on allegations of overpricing.
The case has reignited debate over the safety and oversight of outsourced pharmacy services in government hospitals. Experts argue that such incidents underscore the urgent need for real-time monitoring, stricter accountability measures, and stricter enforcement of existing guidelines to safeguard patient health and trust.