Four months after an inquiry into the shortage of medicines at civic hospitals, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has acted against the culprits. In an order issued on Tuesday, BMC's new assistant commissioner blacklisted one medicine supplier. The civic body has also initiated action against four other companies, which will be declared defaulters.

The blacklisted company failed to supply medicines as many as 394 times in 2018, according to the report of the inquiry conducted by former additional commissioner (health) Idzes Kundan. "As the Model Code of Conduct was in place, the final approval for an action was pending. We have blacklisted a medicine supplier and are also in the process to declare four other firms defaulters," said a BMC health department official.