Police register FIR in medicine theft case

The pilferage of drugs used for de-addiction from OOAT centres notwithstanding, the lingering of the probe into stealing of drugs from the drug store at the Ajnala Civil Hospital highlights the lax attitude of the Health Department as well as the police towards the serious issue.

On May 24, unknown persons burgled a huge quantity of medicines, including buprenorphine, a key drug used for de-addiction, meant for the OOAT centre.

Though a complaint was lodged with the police on the same day, the Ajnala police registered an FIR only yesterday, around two weeks after the instances. Ironically, it was yet to ascertain the quantity of drugs stolen.

The Health Department also apparently failed to do any follow up with the police department in the case. When asked to the Civil Surgeon, Dr Kirandeep Kaur, she said that would have to verify the current status from the concerned medical officer though she added that the case was ‘already registered’ by the police.

On the other hand, when asked about the quantity of drugs stolen, Mukhtar Singh, SHO, Ajnala police station, said they were yet to verify it. While another police official associated with the probe said the Health Department was still to submit the record of the medicines stolen from the drug store of the hospital.

Dr Gorisha, medical officer of the Ajnala Civil Hospital, who was on duty at that time had submitted a complaint to the police. In her complaint she said that she along with a class-four employee identified as Sahil had made the round of the hospital at around 12.30am and next day at around 7.15am when the Sahil made the round the hospital he found the lower part of the drug store door broken.

He immediately alarmed other employees, including OOAT staff nurse and the Chief Pharmacist, who reached the spot and found the locks of two almirahs, where medicines of OOAT centres were kept, broken and all the drugs stolen.