Paradip, July 22: Medicines, first-aid and healthcare accessories worth several lakhs have vanished under mysterious circumstances from the Paradip Port Hospital.

While the incident has exposed gaping holes in the premier hospital of the port town, it is being suspected that the staff members of the health facility have executed the pilferage.

The port trust authorities have ordered a probe to ascertain whether any hospital staff member had any role in the theft.

They have suspended Bhagyadhar Majhi, pharmaceutical head of the hospital, for “negligence” that allegedly resulted in the theft.

“An inquiry committee has been constituted to investigate the theft. On the basis of preliminary findings of the probe committee, a hospital staff member has already been suspended. The four-member committee is expected to submit its final report in a couple of days,” said chairman of the Paradip Port Trust S. Ananth Kumar Bose.

“From the findings of the preliminary investigation, it appears that it was an incident of in-house theft,” said the Paradip Port Trust’s deputy conservator Gouri Kumar Biswal.

The stolen hospital goods included, among other things, huge stock of medicines, anti-rabies vaccines, intra-venous fluids and syringes, said inspector of Paradip police station Anil Mishra.

“It appears that the theft was committed by some members of the hospital staff rather than outsiders as during its visit, a police team found that the hospital’s stockroom was locked from outsider, said Mishra.

There was no circumstantial evidence of outsiders committing the theft. Some members of the hospital staff are being questioned. We hope to arrest the culprits soon,” he said.