QSUT central pharmacy: expired medicine stock (2012-2018)
Status: Journalistic report (2018). No later official follow-up found in sources read.
Summary
BIRN analysed the QSUT central pharmacy inventory as of 9 May 2018 and reported that about 93% of the medicines were expired, with only 7% still usable for patients. The stock dated from 2012-2018 and had a total book value of 481.8 million lekë. BIRN cited a KLSH figure of 172.7 million lekë of expired stock in 2014-2015.
The hospital did not answer BIRN's questions on causes or patient harm. In a written reply it said processing the information request would take a long and unpredictable time. A patient quoted in the same reporting described buying medicines privately at high prices over several years.
This is a journalistic analysis of an inventory. It is not a court finding, and the sources read do not establish harm to specific patients.
Key facts
- BIRN inventory data as of 9 May 2018 (per BalkanWeb, 1 Oct 2018).
- About 93% of medicines in QSUT central pharmacy expired; about 7% usable (BIRN, as reported).
- Medicines dated 2012-2018, total book value 481.8 million lekë (as reported).
- Expired stock value 172,705,615 lekë in 2014-2015, attributed by BIRN to a KLSH report (report not read).
- Expired stock stated as 447 million lekë in 2018 (as reported).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (2)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- QSUT's directorate acknowledged the expired-stock problem and blamed the previous administration (as reported by BalkanWeb, 2018).
- QSUT did not answer BIRN's questions on causes or patient harm (BIRN, as reported).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat the high cost of disposing of expired medicines in EU countries led some pharmaceutical companies to offload them to QSUT as donations (BIRN suspicion, not established).
Allegations and who made them (1)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationPatient quoted by BIRN: she had to buy medicine at pharmacies at high prices several times during at least six years of intensive treatment (quoted, not verified).
Open questions (2)
- Full KLSH report figures for 2014-2015 and 2018 (not read; attribution comes via BIRN).
- Whether the 2018 stock problem was addressed in later KLSH or Ministry audits (not found).
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- QSUT (in a written reply to BIRN): processing the request needed a long and unpredictable timeframe because of the voluminous documentation (quoted in BalkanWeb, 1 Oct 2018).
Timeline
Full timeline →Other
KLSH expired-stock figure at QSUT, 2014-2015 (as cited by BIRN)
BIRN reported that expired medicine stock at QSUT was 172,705,615 lekë in 2014-2015, attributing the figure to a KLSH report. The date field is the end of the period covered, not a publication or event date. KLSH reports for 2014 and 2015 were not read.
Media
BIRN reports 93% of QSUT central pharmacy medicines expired
BalkanWeb (BIRN analysis, 1 Oct 2018) reported an inventory as of 9 May 2018: about 93% of central pharmacy medicines expired, 7% usable, total book value 481.8 million lekë (2012-2018 stock), 447 million lekë expired value in 2018. QSUT did not answer on causes or patient harm and cited the time needed to process the information request.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 1 source.
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 1 source
- Publisher
- BalkanWeb (BIRN analysis)
- Date
- 1 Oct 2018