Sambalpur, March 15: Tension prevailed in the sub-divisional headquarter hospital at Kuchinda, 75km away from here, after a huge quantity of anti-malaria drugs were found dumped on the hospital campus.

An irate mob gathered today to complain before the local sub-collector about the “irresponsible deed” of the hospital authorities. They alleged that the hospital authorities were barring the people from availing free medicines supplied by the government.

“As soon as I was informed about the matter, I visited the place with the chairman of the local Notified Area Council and conducted an inquiry in the presence of the sub-divisional medical officer and the store keeper,” said Pratap Mishra, sub-collector of Kuchinda.

“I found the complaint to be true. Huge quantity of Chloroquine medicine were found dumped inside the campus,” said Mishra.

The hospital authorities have no right to throw the valuable medicines in this way and I will inform the collector about this, he added.

Sushil Kar, a local resident, alleged: “Doctors of the hospital never prescribe any medicines which are supplied by the government. The poor patients are forced to buy the expensive medicines from shops,” said Sushil Kar.

“The hospital staff had removed the medicine from the packet and dumped the sachet inside the hospital campus,” said Sandeep Mohanty, a social worker and a resident of Kuchinda.

“Kuchinda is a tribal belt, which is prone to malaria. The government is supplying a huge quantity of medicine for free distribution but the doctors do not prescribe the drug which the people could avail free of cost,” said Bishal Kandulana.

“The sub-divisional medical officer has asked for a report from the store keeper,” said Akhilesh Pratap Singh, chairman of Kuchinda Notified Area Council.