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Cancer Drug Vials: Delhi Hospitals Told to Destroy
11 Jul
Summary
- Hospitals must destroy empty anti-cancer drug vials to prevent counterfeiting.
- Reports show genuine vials refilled with dangerous substances.
- Strict record-keeping and disposal protocols are now mandated.
The Delhi drugs control department has issued a critical advisory to oncology hospitals, mandating enhanced record-keeping and the immediate destruction of empty vials from high-value cancer medicines. This action is a response to growing concerns over the counterfeiting and diversion of anti-cancer drugs, particularly immunotherapeutic agents.
Authorities have received disturbing reports indicating that genuine empty vials are being collected, refilled with spurious or substandard materials, and then re-entered into the pharmaceutical supply chain. This practice poses a severe threat to public health and patient safety.
To combat this, hospitals must now procure anti-cancer drugs exclusively from authorized sources and meticulously document every vial received, administered, stocked, or wasted. Furthermore, all empty vials and ampoules must be rendered unusable immediately after use, either by crushing, defacing labels, or breaking the containers, in strict adherence to bio-medical waste rules.
Under no circumstances should intact empty containers be discarded or handed over without prior destruction. Hospitals are also tasked with establishing internal protocols to prevent pilferage and diversion, and to promptly report any suspected cases of counterfeit medicines or illegal activities to the Drugs Control Department. Cooperation with regulatory inspections is also required.
