The Airport Drug Controller (ADC) on Wednesday directed the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to scrutinise the consignment of non-sterile medical devices seized by the Customs department at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport this month.

The ADC said DCGI is the licensing authority for approving imported medical devices. The consignment, comprising stents and catheters used in angioplasty, was seized at the airport on October 3. Most of the medical equipment were sent to ADC for tests and were found to be non-sterilised.

A group of Ahmedabad-based cardiologists with US and Canadian passports had brought the consignment for their ‘Project Little Hearts’ programme at the Nadiad-based Dharmasinh Desai Institute of Cardiology.

Assistant Commissioner of Customs Department A S Srivastav had sent a letter to ADC stating the list of stents, catheters and heart valves seized at the airport. The list of medical equipment includes 3,000 vascular grafts, 360 Aortic Mechanical Heart Valves and around 10 other medical equipment. The detained items were tabulated along with their product specifications, manufacturers and distributors.

Customs officers said on condition of anonymity that the doctors were found carrying medical equipment and devices in a commercial flight without permission from DCGI.

Most of the equipment were non-sterilised and had expiry dates of February, May and June 2009. Use of stents after their expiry is forbidden in the US, but there is no such law in India.

Assistant Airport Drug Controller at Ahmedabad, A Ramkishan confirmed having sent the list of medical equipment to DCGI, but refused to comment on the issue.