New Delhi A theft involving expensive cancer treatment injections has been reported at the Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI) in Dilshad Garden, Delhi. Four boxes of Nimotuzumab injections stored in a refrigerator in the hospital’s chemotherapy department were found missing. The estimated retail value of the medicines is between ₹9 lakh and ₹10.8 lakh. Following a complaint, local police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified persons on October 12 and launched an investigation. Police are examining how the expensive medicines disappeared from the hospital and whether an organised gang could be involved in their theft and illegal sale.
Expensive Injections Stored in Chemotherapy Department Refrigerator
According to the complaint filed by Dr. Pankaj Tyagi, an associate professor in the institute’s gastroenterology department, four boxes of Nimotuzumab injections had been kept in a refrigerator in the Chemotherapy Day Care Department on the hospital’s second floor.
Each box contained four vials of 50 mg each. The medication is used in the treatment of certain types of cancer and must be stored under specified conditions to maintain its quality and effectiveness.
The complaint states that the four boxes were placed in the refrigerator between approximately 5:30 pm and 6 pm on October 3, after the completion of chemotherapy procedures. The medicines were reportedly kept in their designated storage location following the treatment session.
However, when the refrigerator was opened on October 5 to retrieve medicines for patients, all four boxes were found missing. The discovery prompted concerns about the security of expensive medicines stored at the institute.
Theft Discovered Two Days Later
After the medicines were found missing, the institute initiated a review of its drug inventory and related records. Given the seriousness of the incident, the hospital administration constituted an internal inquiry committee to examine the stock records, storage arrangements and other relevant documentation.
The inquiry is expected to establish when the injections were last accounted for, when their disappearance was first noticed and who had access to the medicines and the refrigerator.
Investigators are also examining the circumstances under which the boxes could have been removed from the department. However, no official conclusion has yet been announced regarding the identity of the person or persons responsible or the manner in which the medicines were taken out of the hospital.
Police Probe Possible Organised Network Behind Illegal Drug Sales
According to police officials, previous incidents of a similar nature at the hospital are also being considered during the investigation.
Police are examining whether the theft was an isolated incident or whether an organised network could be involved in stealing expensive cancer medicines and selling them through unauthorised channels.
The suspected theft raises concerns beyond the financial value of the missing medicines. Expensive cancer drugs are an important part of treatment for eligible patients, and their availability can be crucial to maintaining continuity of care. Any unauthorised removal of medicines from a hospital can also raise questions about inventory management, access controls and the security of medical supplies.
Police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons and are investigating the case. The findings of the hospital’s internal inquiry, along with the police investigation, may help determine whether an insider was involved or whether an outsider gained access to the medicines.
At this stage, no arrest or recovery of the stolen injections has been confirmed.
What Is Nimotuzumab and Why Is It Important?
Nimotuzumab is a monoclonal antibody used in targeted treatment for certain types of cancer. Targeted therapies work by acting on specific biological targets associated with cancer cells, helping doctors treat the disease according to the patient’s condition and clinical requirements.
Such medicines are used under medical supervision, based on the type of cancer and the patient’s treatment plan. Their proper storage and controlled distribution are therefore important aspects of hospital management.
The disappearance of four boxes of Nimotuzumab injections has brought the institute’s drug storage and security procedures under scrutiny. Investigators are attempting to determine whether the incident involved an individual theft or a wider network engaged in the unauthorised sale of expensive medicines.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further details are awaited regarding the circumstances of the theft, the possible involvement of other individuals and the recovery of the missing medicines.
