Haryana government suspends blood bank and pharmacy license of Fortis Gurugram
The Haryana government on Friday suspended the licences of the pharmacy and blood bank of Fortis hospital in Gurgaon. Following multiple inspections through November and December during which “nine types of contraventions were detected” at the pharmacy, and the alleged failure of the hospital to provide a satisfactory reply to a showcause notice issued thereafter, the Retail Sale Drugs licence of Gurgaon’s Fortis Hospital, as well as the licence of its blood bank, have been suspended by the licensing authority.
According to the FDA, the pharmacy was issued a drugs licence in the name of Fortis Hospital Limited but it does not mention the same on its bills. Moreover, it sold drugs under the signatures of two persons — Amit and Pushkar Singh Khati — but their names are not endorsed on the retail sale drugs licence of the pharmacy. The pharmacy, according to the FDA, also sold drugs without maintaining electronic records of buyers’ names and addresses.
“Considering the violation of Rule 65 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and its various sub-sections, the suspension order has been issued. We have asked the hospital not to be involved in any sale, purchase or distribution of drugs during the suspension period. Otherwise, legal action will be taken,” said Sunil Chaudhary, the licensing authority in Gurgaon.
ortis had come under scanner after the family of a seven-year-old girl, who died of dengue-related complications, accused the hospital of overcharging and negligence. “The licences of the blood bank and the pharmacy have been suspended. The hospital had submitted a compliance report, but that was found to be unsatisfactory. They have now been given another opportunity to meet the requirements of the guidelines, after which their compliance will be verified and a final decision will be taken on whether the licences need to be cancelled,” said an official from the Food and Drugs Administration, Haryana.
