Three districts get poor quality sanitisers in Karnataka

BENGALURU: Liquid hand sanitisers supplied to Ramanagara and Kalaburagi districts are “not of standard quality”, the Karnataka Drugs Controller has found. Samples were tested by the drug controller and a report was issued on June 16. Both samples were from a pharma company in Hoskote.
Dr BT Khanapure, drug controller of Karnataka, said stocks which sent to the two districts have been withheld. Ditto of samples supplied to Mysuru, which were procured from two different private companies.
“We have sent a report to the government,” Dr Khanapure said. “The samples supplied to three districts were from two different companies and are not of standard quality.” Sources say the government invested crore of rupees buying the sanitisers.
N Manjushree, additional director, Karnataka State Drugs Logistics and Warehousing Society, said: “Stocks have been seized and banned from use. We have issued notices to the suppliers to replace the entire stock as per terms and conditions of the contract.”
Experts say, prior to procurement of supplies, samples of the product are tested, a tender is issued and market assessment conducted. But that wasn’t done in this case. “The suppliers gave an in-house lab report at the time of procurement. There is no loss to the government as the product has to be replaced by the firm,” said Manjushree.
When asked if action would be taken against the companies, an official said if three batches are declared ‘not of standard quality’ then the product can be blacklisted and once declared NSQ, the government’s Aushadha software does not allow distribution.
However, there was no clarity on when they were distributed and the quantity supplied. When contacted, Jawaid Akhtar, additional chief secretary, health and family welfare department, said samples are being tested by the drug controller as a routine procedure.