In a meeting conducted at the Institute of Public Health (IPH), Namkum, Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari while reviewing the work of the State Drug Control Directorate has clearly said that no fraud of drug companies and medical stores will be tolerated in the State.
Ansari also stated that medicine is a very essential and sensitive material and it’s wrong or fake use can put the life of the patient at risk and the treatment may not be beneficial. Therefore, the Health Department is keeping a close watch on the purchase and sale of medicines.
The Health Minister directed that correct and quality medicines should be made available to the people of the State in a transparent and accessible manner and for this, the Health Department has been asked to prepare a concrete action plan.
In this meeting, Principal Health Services Director Dr. Chandra Kishore Shahi, Drug Director Ritu Sahay, Joint Director Suman Tiwari, drug inspectors and other officers of all districts were present. The status of the State Drug Testing Laboratory and human resources was also reviewed in the meeting.
The Health Minister has received information that some fake drug companies are active in the State. Showing seriousness on this, Ansari has directed the officials to conduct immediate investigation and raids.
The Health Minister also directed that such a system should be developed so that information about the medicines available in all medical stores can be obtained in one click. He made it clear that giving banned medicines or cough syrup without a written prescription from a doctor is a legal offense and it should be strictly implemented.
All drug inspectors have been instructed to regularly inspect drug stores, check the quality and stock of medicines. If any irregularity is found in a shop, strict action should be taken against the concerned shopkeeper. Also, action will also be taken against drug inspectors who are negligent.
The Health Minister took detailed information from the drug inspectors about the actions taken by them so far, raids and working system. Ansari also said that a review meeting will be held again within a week in which all the officers should be present with the updated progress report.
Ansari took information from Drug Director Ritu Sahay about which medicines are available in the State and what control the government has over them and also about the process of quality testing of medicines.
The Health Minister directed the officials to identify the counterfeit drug syndicate and take strict legal action against them and said that complete control should be ensured on this illegal business.
