ADH Pharmaceutical Security Breach Investigation Stalled by Institutional Non-Cooperation

A formal inquiry into the November 2025 theft of controlled pharmaceutical substances from the ADH hospital pharmacy has encountered significant institutional resistance, impeding investigative progress. The incident involved the misappropriation of 20 vials of Mephentermine Sulphate, a Schedule X psychotropic substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, by Swapnil Chavan, a Class IV employee serving as a drug store peon. Chavan was subsequently suspended under Rules 2 and 4 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, which pertain to misconduct and actions prejudicial to state interests. The investigative panel, tasked with determining the full scope of the security lapse and potential systemic vulnerabilities, now reports that hospital staff are failing to provide requisite cooperation. This obstruction raises critical questions regarding internal accountability protocols, chain-of-custody procedures for high-risk medications, and the broader culture of compliance within the institution. The lack of cooperation not only delays justice but also suggests possible institutional efforts to obscure procedural failures or wider complicity. This case underscores persistent vulnerabilities in pharmaceutical supply chain security at public health facilities and highlights the challenges regulatory bodies face in enforcing accountability when met with institutional intransigence.