Health Minister Prakash Abitkar on Wednesday issued a strict warning to all outsourced institutions providing services in the public health sector, directing officials to take stringent action, including blacklisting, against violators.
In the health department, many critical services, ranging from CT scans, MRIs, dialysis, STEMI care, X-rays, blood testing, and emergency medical services (108, 102) to human resources, dietary services, sanitation, technical support, maintenance, and vehicle supply, are provided through private agencies.
Minister Abitkar instructed district-level officials to conduct thorough inspections of these institutions to ensure compliance with rules, including proper payment of staff, adequate patient care, sanitary conditions, and adherence to all regulations.
Inspection reports are to be submitted within 15 days, with payments withheld and strict action taken against non-compliant agencies.
“Institutions must maintain quality standards, transparency, and follow departmental rules,” Abitkar said.
District surgeons and health officers were directed to regularly inspect and evaluate outsourced agencies, with punitive measures, contract cancellations, and blacklisting enforced against violators. Officials found that supporting negligent providers may also face action.
The minister also stressed the importance of public awareness, directing campaigns to ensure citizens know about facilities provided through outsourced agencies.
The meeting reviewed ongoing state-wide health programs, including sickle cell screening, anaemia detection, elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis), tuberculosis, malaria control, and maternal mortality reduction initiatives. Abitkar reiterated that public hospitals remain the primary support for citizens, emphasising the need for proper treatment, care, and quality services.
The session was attended by the Health Director, Deputy Directors, and senior officials from the department.
Two arrested in Thane for selling fake BP medicines worth Rs 9 lakh
Maharashtra`s Thane Police have arrested two men for allegedly selling counterfeit blood pressure medicines worth Rs 9 lakh by mimicking the name and packaging of a popular brand, officials said on Wednesday.
According to a release from Kalyan police, the accused marketed fake “Telma AM” tablets, a combination of Telmisartan 40 mg and Amlodipine 5 mg, using the license of “Shriram Pharma” and passed them off as products of the original manufacturer.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a raid on January 20 and seized 2,795 strips of fake “Telma AM” tablets valued at Rs 8,94,400, the release said.
Following the FDA’s complaint, a case was registered at Manpada police station in Dombivli under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules, 1945.
The prime accused, identified as Pankaj Radheshyam Upadhyay (33), a distributor and medical representative residing in Dombivli East, was arrested on January 21.
Distributor aware of threat to patients, yet sold tablets
“The accused (Upadhyay) was aware that the said medicine was fake and that its consumption could pose a serious threat to human life, yet he continued to distribute it,” the release state.
During the investigation, police learnt that the stock of duplicate medicines had allegedly been supplied by Vivek Ajaykumar Rai (35), a resident of Kandivali East in Mumbai. He was arrested on February 16, police said.
Further investigation is underway under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III) Atul Zende and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Dombivli Division) Suhas Hemade, the release added.
