Kozhikode civic body pulls back near-expiry medicines from health centres
Kozhikode Corporation recalls medicines nearing expiry from health centres, following councillor complaints and a mayoral directive.
The Kozhikode Corporation has initiated a recall of medicines supplied to health and wellness centres and primary health centres within its jurisdiction, after inspections revealed that several batches were close to expiry or had already lapsed.
The action follows a council meeting held less than a week ago, where councillors flagged the issue. Mayor O. Sadasivan subsequently directed the civic body's health wing to investigate and file a report.
As part of the response, officials have begun cataloguing stock nearing its expiry date and retrieving surplus or older inventory from the centres. Medicines have already been collected from five facilities, according to the Corporation's health wing.
The supplier is taking back the affected stock, with the process expected to conclude by Monday, September 7. Officials confirmed that returned medicines would be replaced with fresh supplies.
During the council session, councillor Saritha Parayeri raised the matter, with BJP councillors Parayeri and N. Sivaprasad noting that most medicines delivered to health centres in their wards were close to expiry. Congress councillor K.C. Shobhitha alleged the involvement of a "lobby" in supplying older medicines and urged authorities to escalate the issue to the State government.
The Mayor clarified that the Corporation does not procure medicines directly. They are supplied through the National Health Mission (NHM) via the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd. (KMSCL). The Corporation had distributed these medicines to health centres during a shortage of NHM-supplied stock.