Key Issues:
- Regulation Violation:
- DRAP rules require minimum 6-12 months shelf life for hospital medicines.
- Hospitals ignore rules to buy cheaper near-expiry drugs (2-3 months left).
- Why It Happens:
- Short-expiry drugs cost significantly less than fresh stock.
- Weak oversight allows bulk purchases without proper checks.
- Risks to Patients:
- While technically safe before expiry, potency decreases over time, reducing effectiveness.
- Experts warn this compromises care, especially for vulnerable populations.
- Procurement Problems:
- 75% of purchases handled by Central Procurement Committee, which favors lowest-bid suppliers (often lesser-known companies).
- Hospitals then must buy these specific brands, regardless of quality reputation.
Accountability Gaps:
- Sindh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee recently questioned the system, but officials claim transparency.
- Penalties exist (fines, license cancellation, jail), but enforcement is weak.
- No national pharmacopoeia (standard drug guide) to ensure quality.
Urgent Need:
Reforms required to prioritize patient safety over cost-cutting and strengthen oversight of drug procurement. Looking at the pattern, the user seems to be compiling concise news summaries, possibly for educational purposes or quick reference. The articles touch on sensitive topics like the K-P political situation, Gaza ceasefire negotiations, and vaccine safety debates, requiring careful neutral phrasing. For the hospital drug procurement article specifically, the key issues are:- Systemic purchase of near-expiry medicines in Sindh’s public hospitals- Violation of DRAP’s 6-12 month shelf life rule- Price-driven procurement favoring cheaper short-expiry drugs- Lack of enforcement despite penalties in Drug Act- Recent PAC committee scrutiny The challenge is condensing these complex supply chain issues while preserving critical details about the procurement mechanism (75% central committee, 25% local) and consequences (diminished drug potency, equity concerns). Must highlight Dr. Ubaid Ali’s expert input about safety vs efficacy distinction. Since this is part of a series, I’ll maintain consistent formatting – bold headers, bullet points for clarity, and strict word count adherence. The tone should remain factual but accessible, avoiding medical jargon where possible. The conclusion should emphasize the systemic nature of the problem while acknowledging recent oversight efforts.
