Bhubaneswar, Aug 4: A serious allegation has surfaced against the Niramaya medicine counter at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Bargarh after a 15-year-old boy was allegedly provided with an expired antibiotic, raising concerns over the quality control and monitoring of medicines distributed under the state's free drug scheme.

According to the complaint, Mukesh Sahu (15), son of Choban Sahu of Nilibandha Pada, sustained a cut injury to his finger and visited the CHC for treatment. After examining him, the attending doctor prescribed the antibiotic Cefpodoxime Proxetil and advised the family to collect the medicine from the Niramaya counter.

The family alleged that the medicine supplied by the hospital had expired in May 2026. Soon after consuming the tablet, Mukesh reportedly experienced dizziness and vomiting. Alarmed by his condition, his parents examined the medicine strip and found that its expiry date had already passed.

The incident has triggered serious questions over the storage, monitoring and distribution of medicines under the Niramaya scheme, with concerns being raised about whether adequate checks are in place to prevent expired drugs from reaching patients.

The boy's family has demanded a thorough investigation into the incident and strict action against those responsible for the alleged negligence. They have also urged the authorities to strengthen quality control mechanisms to ensure patient safety.

Meanwhile, Health Department officials had not issued any official statement on the matter till the filing of this report. The incident is likely to prompt closer scrutiny of medicine distribution practices at government healthcare facilities.

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