Probe panel's deadline over, report not filed

Patna: As the opposition created ruckus over an alleged

cancer

drug syndicate operating in the city, health minister Tej Pratap Yadav replied in the legislative assembly on Tuesday that a two-member panel was looking into the matter. However, the fact remains that the deadline set for the panel to submit its report ended on January 25.

Sources said the panel comprising health department joint secretary Prabhakar Jha and IGIMS director Dr N R Biswas has been served a reminder by the health department to complete the inquiry, but nothing has moved.

Health department's deputy secretary and spokesperson Anil Kumar told TOI on Wednesday, "The panel was constituted on January 18, 2016 and it was given a week's time to submit its report. Since the report was not submitted, a reminder was sent on March 3, 2016." He added that his office has not got any report till date.

On the other hand, a drug control administration team has submitted a detailed report to the health department this week itself, further nailing in the IGIMS cancer centre head, Dr Rajesh Kumar Singh. The team, for the first time, raided the premises of Ayon Healthcare Pvt Limited, which allegedly is functioning from the residence of Dr Singh. The team found the drug marketing firm's article of association, which shows that Singh's wife, Ranjana Singh, was a director on the company's board.

Earlier, in January, drug control administration had raided wholesalers who had procured drugs from Ayon and the whole row erupted.

The drug control team, comprising drug inspectors Sachchidanand Prasad, Sanjiv Kumar and drug licensing authority

Subhash Chandra

, has said in its report that the flat of Dr Singh is of 3BHK. "Two bedrooms are used by the doctor and his family and third one is used by Ayon. The third room is interconnected with the two rooms," the report says.

Not only does this cast aspersions on doctors but the licensing authority too as to how licence was granted to operate a drug marketing agency from residential premises. Drug controller Ramesh Kumar said, "Rules say appropriate premises must only be used. Usually, firms with residential premises as their address are not given licence to operate," he said.