Moga: In a serious breach of medical security, a large quantity of buprenorphine injections—valued at approximately Rs 7 lakh—was stolen from the government-run Civil Hospital in Moga, sparking concerns about the drug’s potential diversion into illegal circulation.
The theft came to light during a routine inventory check by hospital authorities, who discovered that an entire stockpile of the high-risk drug had vanished from the medicine storage facility. Buprenorphine, a controlled substance used both for pain management and opioid de-addiction, is tightly regulated due to its misuse in the narcotics trade.
Initial reports suggest that the thieves broke open the lock of the drug store, which was left without active security at the time of the incident. No guards were stationed near the area, and to the dismay of officials, there were no CCTV cameras functioning around the storage unit.
“This incident points to a serious lapse in hospital security protocols,” a source in the Health Department said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “These drugs can easily find their way into the black market, where demand is extremely high.”
Following the discovery, Senior Medical Officer Dr. Sandeep Kumar, along with hospital administrators, visited the scene and promptly informed local law enforcement. Officers from the City Police Station in Moga arrived at the hospital and began a formal investigation.
Authorities believe the theft likely occurred during nighttime hours, taking advantage of the complete lack of surveillance. Investigators are now reviewing CCTV footage from surrounding buildings and have begun questioning hospital personnel who had access to the drug storage area.
Police officials have not ruled out the possibility of insider involvement, given the targeted nature of the theft and the knowledge required to access such specific medication.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Health Department has launched an internal inquiry to determine how the theft went unnoticed and why proper security measures were not in place. The probe will also examine whether standard operating procedures for storing narcotics were being followed.
Buprenorphine, though medically essential for addiction recovery programs, is frequently misused as a heroin substitute by drug users due to its similar opioid effects, making it a lucrative commodity in illegal drug markets.
As the investigation continues, public health advocates and local leaders have called for stricter controls over high-risk pharmaceutical inventories and immediate upgrades to security infrastructure at public health facilities.
