MH-BMC-DRUGS

Suppliers stop drug delivery to BMC hospitals
    Mumbai, Jun 26 (PTI) Civic-run hospitals in Mumbai
might face shortage of medicines from Thursday with suppliers
suspending drug supply to protest blacklisting of their
colleague since Tuesday.
    The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Wednesday
said they were not informed about the "sudden move" and
claimed that the hospitals have adequate stock of medicines.
    The AIFDLH (All India Food and Drug License Holder
Association), which controls more than 90 per cent of drug
supply to civic hospitals, said the effect of shortage would
be felt from Thursday.
    AIFDLH president Abhay Pandey Wednesday alleged that
the BMC had blacklisted a genuine supplier of medicines.
    "When the BMC had blacklisted one errant supplier then
we had not objected to it. But, this time, the civic body has
blacklisted a genuine supplier because of which we feel
offended. The concerned supplier had paid penalty for delaying
drugs but still he was blacklisted, which is the violation of
the contract," he alleged.
    Pandey said the AIFDLH has 44 members who supply
tablets and capsules in 24 hospitals, 33 maternity homes and
178 dispensaries across the city.
    When contacted, Additional Municipal Commissioner
Ashwini Joshi told PTI: "We have not been informed about any
such move. We have no official communication in this regard
and there is no dearth of medicines and drugs".
    Meanwhile, an AIFDLH member said the BMC often delays
payments of suppliers.
    "BMC should act against those officials who delay our
bill payments and the medical superintendents who pull us up
over a slight delay in supplying drugs," he said. PTI APM
NSK NSK

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from a PTI feed.)