July 10 In a concerning development that has reignited scrutiny over medical supply standards in Chhattisgarh’s public health system, the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Limited (CGMSC) has issued back-to-back circulars ordering an immediate hold on the usage and distribution of two separate batches of surgical rubber gloves marked as sterile and ISI-certified. These gloves, procured from M/s Anondita Healthcare, were widely circulated across major government-run hospitals in Raipur and Balodabazar districts, including Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital (BRAMH), DKS Super Speciality Institute, and Government Dental College. ‘The Hitavada’ has accessed copies of the internal orders dated July 4, 2025, that reveal batch numbers AM240703G and AM230607G - corresponding to glove sizes 6.5 and 7 – have been placed on immediate usage hold. The official memos caution institutions to halt all further use and distribution until fresh directives are issued. The wording of both documents subtly indicates potential lapses, stating: “In case stock is still available, refrain from using or distributing.”

 

Further compounding the state’s healthcare troubles, CGMSC recently had also recalled an anti-epileptic injectable – Phenytoin Sodium Injection I.P. (Drug Code: D409), Batch No. CPY2503 - manufactured by Systochem Laboratories Ltd. The batch, produced in March 2025 with an expiry in February 2027, was flagged as Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) after failing final quality assessment. Although preliminary NSQ alerts had earlier suspended its distribution, a formal withdrawal was issued only after the latest conclusive testing. This tacit acknowledgment has triggered fears that the suspect gloves may have already been administered in operating theatres and diagnostic setups before the hold order reached the ground. Informed medical voices now argue the delay could pose serious procedural risks for post-operative patients and frontline medical staff exposed to compromised consumables.

 

Dr Rakesh Gupta, former IMA Raipur President and current Head of the Medical Cell, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC), stated, “The very idea that such material made its way into our top hospitals before failing internal thresholds points to a broken chain of drug-testing accountability. Patients deserve better than this cycle of procurement negligence.” According to Dr Gupta, this is not an isolated instance. Over the past few months, CGMSC has had to retract several life-saving drugs following complaints and test failures –ranging from epilepsy-critical Phenytoin Sodium, blood-thinner Heparin, to basic intravenous drip sets. “While hospitals have acted swiftly following field-level alerts, the credibility of the CGMSC’s internal quality control systems has come under growing suspicion,” he maintained.