Uttar Pradesh hospital staff accused of burning sacks of unexpired medicines in Safipur

Health department suspends officials, orders inquiry after drugs with 2026 expiry dates found charred on hospital grounds

In a shocking case of negligence, health staff at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Safipur, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly burnt around 10–12 sacks of medicines, including several essential drugs that were nowhere near their expiry dates, officials confirmed on Sunday.

The incident came to light when local residents noticed smoke rising from the hospital compound on Saturday evening. Upon closer look, they found bottles of syrup, injection vials, and tablet strips smouldering in the open, with visible expiry labels showing validity until 2026.

Essential medicines among burnt stock

According to officials, the destroyed medicines included levocetirizine (anti-allergic) tablets, lignocaine gel (anaesthetic), paracetamol tablets, and metronidazole syrup (antibiotic), all commonly prescribed for seasonal infections, fevers, and pain relief.

Eyewitnesses told local reporters that boxes of usable stock were dumped and set ablaze near the hospital’s waste yard, raising questions about potential mismanagement or malpractice.

“The smoke was thick, and when we checked, strips of medicines and vials were burning. Some packets were clearly new,” said a resident who alerted authorities.

Officials removed, inquiry launched

Reacting swiftly, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Satyaprakash confirmed that CHC in-charge Dr. Rajesh Verma and pharmacist Prem Shankar have been removed from their posts and attached to the CMO office pending investigation.

“An exhaustive probe has been ordered. Strict action will be taken once the inquiry confirms the facts,” Dr. Satyaprakash told reporters.

Assistant Chief Medical Officer Dr. H.N. Prasad visited the site on Sunday morning and collected samples of the half-burnt medicines for inspection.

‘Burning medicines, expired or not, is wrong’

Health department officials have called the act “entirely improper”, stressing that even expired medicines must be disposed of through bio-medical waste management systems, not open burning.

“Medicines must never be burnt on hospital premises. It poses both an environmental and health hazard,” said a senior official aware of the preliminary findings.

Officials said nearly 250–300 patients visit the CHC daily, many requiring the very medicines that were destroyed.

Locals allege deeper rot in public health supply chain

Local residents expressed anger, alleging that patients at government hospitals are frequently asked to buy medicines from private shops, despite regular public supply.

“When you go to the counter, they often say the medicines aren’t available. Now we know why,” a local villager said.

The CMO said the exact value of the burnt stock and quantity of unexpired drugs will be determined after the ongoing probe concludes.