Expired medicine case: NVCO shocked at out-of-court settlement

Dimapur, September 17 : The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organization (NVCO) has expressed shock that even a criminal case as critical as selling expired medicine would be settled outside the court—that too in the presence of district administrations and hospital authorities.

The organization issued a press release on Saturday noting the recent case of a salesman from ‘Save A Life Pharmacy’ at the Naga Hospital Authority of Kohima that allegedly sold expired medicines to a patient.

The NVCO named the salesman as one Mithun Bhowal who was reportedly arrested for selling expired medicine to a patient on September 13. The organization stated that the victim, said to be a minor, ‘who was an outdoor patient bought medicine for dysentery and after consuming the medicine the victim suffered severe vomiting.’
‘The NVCO could not understand as to how the expired medicine case already registered in a criminal court could be settled in the presence of district administration, hospital authority and Angami Youth Organisation which is totally outside the court? The NVCO questioned whether this is a case to be settled by the district administration or the court?’ the press release from the NVCO questioned.

The NVCO had extended its support and appreciation to the victim’s family for boldly lodging a criminal case by filing an FIR upon realizing that the medicine had expired, the NVCO said.

“And the NVCO had also extended its appreciation to the police personnel and drug inspector for prompt action to the extent that the said pharmacy which terribly failed to prove its name ‘Save A Life Pharmacy’ was sealed after inspection.”

The organization reminded citizens that selling expired goods was a serious violation of consumer rights under the Consumer Protection Act 1986.

Further, ‘selling expired medicine is more serious which is almost playing with life where there are cases in the country that a consumer seriously fell ill or even die (sic) after consuming expired medicine. The NVCO expresses its displeasure over the manner of NHAK apology tendered to the victim family and the public stating that the commission of the wrong act was unintentional,’ the NVCO stated.

The organization also questioned that a pharmacy situated inside the very hospital’s ‘building’ and run by Naga Hospital could become insecure to consumers and patients.

‘What about other pharmacies? The district administration instead of checking pharmacies within its jurisdiction gone ahead in settling the issue which is already admitted and proved to be wrong,’ the organization stated.