A serious mismanagement of medicine stores in Madhya Pradesh was flagged in a central audit report last year, months before one of the country's worst medicine tragedies left at least 23 children dead in the state.

The deaths are linked to the adulterated Coldrif cough syrup that has renewed focus on drug testing and regular inspections.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)'s report tabled in the assembly on December 18 said no physical verification of stores was carried out during 2018-22 at several hospitals, including one in Chhindwara, the epicentre of the recent deaths.

These included the Chhindwara Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) and Bhopal's Hamidia Hospital and Sultania Zanana Hospital. As per state rules, all medical stores should be physically verified once a year.

The report on the public health infrastructure and management of health services in Madhya Pradesh said the irregularities were found during physical verification of the central medicine stores of test-checked hospitals.

Source:Ndtv