RAHIM YAR KHAN: Local patients of hepatitis B are allegedly being given defected medicines by the Shaikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital (SZMC&H).

One of the patients, requesting anonymity, told this correspondent on Tuesday that a few days ago he had got the Tenofo B (300 milligramme) tablets from the hospital pharmacy, but when he opened the pack, the tablets were found in a deformed shape.

He went to the office of Medical Superintendent Dr Ghulam Rabbani and told him about the issue, who referred the matter to a junior doctor for investigation.

SZMC&H spokesman Rana Ilyas Ahmed told Dawn that the Punjab government had provided the tablets two months ago for 15,000 hepatitis B patients. The medicine had been kept in an air-conditioned store, but its efficacy could have been affected during transportation.

He further said that the stock of medicine was stored in a safe environment and in accurate temperature at the hospital, but it was the responsibility of the government before its arrival here.

He claimed he would further discuss the matter with the officials concerned.

A private pharmacy owner said Tenofo B 300mg tablets were available in the market for Rs3,450 per pack of 30 tablets. A hepatitis patient takes one tablet daily.

He further said the efficacy of Tenofo could be affected and damaged if it was kept in a temperature higher than 25 degrees Celsius or under direct sunlight.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2018