Congress leader for probe into spurious drugs

AGARTALA: Senior Congress legislator of Tripura, Ratan Lal Nath has demanded a probe into the administrative irregularities in procurement and supply of spurious drugs to hospitals by a sitting high court judge. He demanded a CBI investigation into the incident.
The matter relates to the procurement of spurious medicines from a banned company of Himachal Pradesh for the last four years by the Tripura government.The drugs were used in government hospitals and dispensaries of the state.
The state government has already denied the allegation that it procured the medicine even after knowing those are spurious. Health minister Tapan Chakraborty said immediately after the report, the government stopped using the drugs. He also denied the allegation of corruption in the procurement of the medicines. Nath, however, alleged that the medicines had been approved by the higher purchase committee headed by the director.
According to Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940, before administering any drug to a patient, it is necessary to test its quality. But in this case, the department did not do it, alleged Nath.
Nath said the government did not file any FIR against the company and the officials concerned for supply, procurement and distribution of spurious drugs, which was mandatory as per law.