While purchase committees in all government hospitals decide the criteria for zeroing down on products and place orders, the purchase-specific guidelines issued by the Health Department prescribe the basic rules.

As per the existing circular issued by the Health Department, hospitals are supposed to use suture threads of IP/BP/USP quality standards. They are also bound to purchase the material from a company that offers the cheapest product and that too without the need for any lab-testing.

Incidentally, while the purchase committees have been following the guidelines, the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital had received a written complaint from a group of doctors from the Surgery and Orthopaedic Department a month ago.

A Health Department official said:“We have been receiving similar complaints about poor quality suture threads being frequently used in quite a few hospitals in the state.”

Hospital authorities now want the Health Department to make policy-level changes.

Civil Hospital Superintendent M M Anchalia said:“After doctors pointed out in a written complaint about the bad quality of a particular batch of suture material, the entire batch was withdrawn from the operation theatres and sent for laboratory testing. As per norms, in such cases, we can ask for a replacement from the company, but the ultimate power lies with the Health Department.”