Telangana hospital inspection finds expired drugs, sealed OTs after doctor's suspension
An inquiry into a government doctor's absence from duty has uncovered a web of regulatory violations at his private hospital in Telangana's Sangareddy district. Health officials inspected KBR Life Care Hospital at Pothireddypally on Monday, August 10, and found nearly 75% of laboratory reagents expired, along with expired drugs and anaesthesia in the operation theatre.
The hospital is owned by Dr. K. Ramesh, who served as Deputy Civil Surgeon (General Medicine) at the Area Hospital in Jogipet. Dr. Ramesh was suspended on August 7 after an inquiry found he had skipped his scheduled night duty on August 5 and arranged a private individual, not a government doctor, to perform duties in his place.
The inspection revealed multiple patient safety and regulatory lapses. Around 75% of reagents in the hospital laboratory were expired, leading officials to seal the laboratory. The hospital also failed to comply with biomedical waste segregation regulations. Expired drugs and anaesthesia were found in the operation theatre, along with unlabelled pre-filled syringes and medicines stored in the theatre and a refrigerator.
As a result, health officials closed the operation theatres. The District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) issued orders prohibiting any surgical procedures at the hospital until further notice.
The ultrasound and scanning unit also came under scrutiny. Officials found a mobile ultrasound machine in the operation theatre and sealed the ultrasound room. A senior health official explained that mobile ultrasound machines can be misused for sex-determination tests, which are prohibited under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act—a law aimed at preventing female foeticide. Authorities are set to initiate further action under this Act and its rules.
The inquiry has also widened to include another government doctor. Records found during inspection suggest a government-employed gynaecologist allegedly attended to outpatients and participated in surgeries at KBR Life Care Hospital during government duty hours. Officials have seized attendance and procedure records, and action is expected against the doctor.
Despite the serious violations, the hospital was not immediately sealed because five patients were admitted at the time. Officials asked the hospital to provide necessary treatment and ensure safe discharge of these patients within 48 hours.
The case highlights the importance of oversight in both public and private healthcare facilities. Government doctors are expected to adhere to duty schedules, and private hospitals must comply with standards that protect patient safety. The inspections and subsequent actions aim to enforce these norms.
