Government hospitals administering spurious drugs busted by CBI
POSTED May 21, 2010 - 14:23 | POSTED BY neha gupta
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on May 21, 2010 - 15:38
The medicines were uncovered in a special nationwide drive by the Hyderabad Zone bureau from May 12 to May 19 at Hyderabad, Bangalore and Vishakhapatnam.
“When we tested the drugs, it was found that the medicines were adulterated and spurious,” said Rishiraj Singh, CBI joint director (western region). “The medicines collected are ones prescribed for common flu, cold, fever, headache and acidity,” he added.
The checks were conducted following several public complaints about the low quality of medicines being distributed at CGHS and other hospitals.
The hospitals which were raided include CGHS located at Begumpet, Alwal, Tarnaka, Secunderabad, Dilsukhnagar, Kanchanbagh, Charminar and Kakatiya Nagar, as well as Railway Hospital and ESI Hospitals at Nacharam and Sanathnagar.
“It was found that drugs, which were expired, were supplied to the CGHS dispensaries at Begumpet, Alwal, Kanchanbagh and Charminar and also at the ESI hospital at Nacharam,” CBI deputy inspector-general VV Lakshminarayana said.
Action would be taken after reports arrive
The bureau has collected samples of the 23 infected drugs from 14 manufacturing companies and sent them for clinical tests.
Any further action on the distributors or government officials involved in the racket would be taken once the reports arrive, claim officials.
“Sample-testing may take a month’s time and based on the reports we will initiate action. We are investigating when they were supplied to the hospitals and why they are still in the hospital even after their expiry date,” the DIG said.
CBI further believes that the defaulters are a part of a much bigger racket and might involve senior government official too.
“This needs to be probed by multiple agencies as we have raided only central government hospitals and chemists. We suspect this is a larger racket,” said Rishiraj Singh.
Camps to be held in Andhra
Following the disclosure, CBI senior officials have decided to set up two day camps in Andhra to interact with the local people.
The officials would also listen to the public grievances regarding any government official of the central government departments in the state.
The bureau has further ordered 3 special courts in Hyderabad and 2 special courts in Vishakhapatnam under the prevention of corruption act. These courts would assist in reducing trial cases pendencies across the state.
