The tussle between the BMC and drug suppliers has escalated further. After the municipal corporation blacklisted one supplier and declared four others as defaulters, it has now issued showcause notices to another 24 drug suppliers. Following this, the All Food and Drug License Holders Foundation has written to the BMC commissioner, claiming that they are being "wrongfully targeted".

mid-day on May 16 had reported how after a delay of four months, the BMC had blacklisted one supplier for failing to supply medicines 394 times in 2018. Following the development, the association in a complaint filed on May 18 with the BMC had said that civic-run hospitals were facing drug shortage due to irregularities and mismanagement.