PGI Chandigarh shops selling expired goods risk licence cancellation, ₹50,000 fine

Chandigarh. Patients and their families buying from shops on the PGI campus will now be better protected. The institute has raised fines for overcharging, unsafe products and poor hygiene by up to five times.

Under the revised rules announced on Thursday, a shop caught selling spurious, soiled, damaged or expired products will be fined ₹50,000 for each violation. It could also have its licence suspended or cancelled.

The new penalties apply to every shop and commercial outlet on the campus of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).

“We want to ensure fair practices, reasonable pricing, cleanliness and accountability so that patients and their attendants can access these services with confidence,” said PGIMER Director Prof Vivek Lal. He said every service inside the hospital, including its shops, should help people dealing with health problems, not make life harder for them.

Overcharging customers will now cost a shopkeeper ₹50,000, against ₹10,000 earlier. The same ₹50,000 fine applies per violation to shops that do not display rate lists and discount details, which also used to be ₹10,000. A shop found dirty or unhygienic will pay ₹20,000, up from ₹5,000. Selling poor-quality goods or not giving bills will invite stricter action.

The rules go beyond pricing and quality. They also deal with encroachment, improper waste disposal, fire safety, smoking, cleanliness and the need to keep the hospital environment calm.

For serious cases, PGIMER’s fine may not be the end of it. The institute said such violations could also lead to legal action. Shops that break the rules repeatedly, or commit serious violations, face suspension or cancellation of their licences.

Deputy Director (Administration) Pankaj Rai said many of the thousands of patients and attendants who come to PGIMER daily rely on campus shops for their everyday needs. “The revised penalties are designed to make shopkeepers more responsible and ensure that patients and visitors receive fair and reliable services,” he said.

Rai headed the committee that reviewed the old penalty rules. The panel met on October 16 and recommended a steep rise in fines to make enforcement stronger and keep violations down.

According to the institute, shops should no longer see a fine as just another expense of running a business. It expects them to keep up standards of service, hygiene, transparency and safety every day.

PGIMER said patient convenience, consumer protection and safety will not be compromised, and any shop falling short of the rules will face tough action.