Bhubaneswar, Oct. 19: The pharmacy wing of the Government Ayurveda College in Bhubaneswar has remained closed since September 5. This is creating a shortage of ayurvedic medicines in government-run dispensaries, hospitals and Gopabandhu Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya in Puri.

Located in the Nageswar Tangi area, the pharmacy is supposed to supply medicines to 280 government-run dispensaries in the eastern part of Orissa comprising four circles. Areas on the outskirts of the capital and other places such as Cuttack, Khurda, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal and Puri get regular supply of medicine from the pharmacy.

Authorities of the Directorate of Indian Medicines and Homoeopathy (DIMH) under the health and family welfare department, government of Orissa, said that the former in-charge of the pharmacy wing, Dr S.K. Panigrahi, was suspended following allegations of not using right proportions of ingredients while making ayurvedic medicines.

The suspension order was issued in the third week of August. The DIMH director sent a drug inspector to collect sample of medicines produced at the pharmacy to check their quality. However, the inspector was not allowed to collect samples from the facility.

The situation at Government Ayurveda College, Bhubaneswar, Gopabandhu Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Puri, and 280 government-run dispensaries has become critical as the supply of ayurvedic medicine has almost stopped because of the impasse.

“The former in-charge has left with the keys of all the rooms of the pharmacy wing and there is no place even for the staff to sit. I am now sitting on a chair in the verandah. Though I joined on September 5, I was not given the charge as the person concerned had not handed it over to me in accordance with due official procedure,’’ said Dr Durga Charan Das, the new-in-charge of the wing, who was transferred from government ayurveda dispensary, Dhipisahi in Nayagarh district.

Deputy superintendent of the hospital, Dr Nigam Prasad Nayak, was not available for comment as he was on leave.

Director of DIMH, Mahendra Kumar Mallick said: “The report regarding the unusual situation at the ayurveda college was sent to the higher authorities and action will follow soon as it involves the treatment of many patients. As both the state and Centre have stressed on the importance of ayurveda and other forms of Indian medicines, we are very serious about the smooth running of the institute.’’

Sources at the college said the pharmacy produces ayurvedic medicines consisting of powders, tablets and syrups. Around 3 quintal of powder and 25 kg of tablets are produced in a week. However, the quantity of syrups depends on the orders placed by the health-care institutions.

While the manufacturing unit is licensed to produce 125 types of medicines, 20 types, which are usually in demand, are produced.

Jayanti Das, a homemaker of Nageswar Tangi, who depends of the ayurveda hospital for medicines, said the authorities should take immediate steps to address the situation.

While more than 50 patients visit the outdoor chambers, there are 25 indoor patients currently staying in the 40-bed hospital.

“The indoor patients are also suffering badly as they depend on medicines from stores,’’ Das said.