Inquiry ordered in purchase of sub-standard drugs in ISM, DG attached

Fayaz Bukhari

SRINAGAR, Nov 26: Government has ordered an inquiry in the purchase of sub-standard drugs in the Directorate of Indian System of Medicines (ISM) and attached its Director General, Dr Abdul Kabir Dar, in the Health and Medical Education Department.
The order was issued after drugs purchased by the Directorate of ISM was tested sub-standard and severely infested with fungus and have been declared unfit for human consumption by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). The 5 drugs out of 15 samples taken by Vigilance Organization in Jammu in September this year were found spurious while report of other 10 drugs is still awaited.
The attachment order (Government order no: 1310-GAD of 2016 Dated: 25-11-2016) of Dr Abdul Kabir Dar issued by Health and Medical Education Department reads: “Pending inquiry into the matter related to purchase of sub-standard drugs in the Directorate of Indian System of Medicine, Dr. Abdul Kabir Dar Director General of Indian System of Medicine is hereby attached in the Health and Medical Education Department, with immediate effect.”
The order said that the charge of the post of Director General, Indian System of Medicine shall be held by the Secretary to the Government, Health and Medical Education Department, in addition to his own duties, till further orders.
The Government has also ordered (No: 616-HME of 2016  Dated: 25-11-2016) formation of six member committee headed by Secretary Health and Medical Education Department to look into the procurement of the sub-standard and spurious drugs in the ISM.
The other members of the inquiry committee are: Director Finance, Health and Medical Education Department, Controller Drug & Food Control Organization, J&K, Murtaza, Under Secretary to Government Health and Medical Education, Assistant Drug Analyst, Jammu and ADMO ISM, Poonch.
The inquiry order read: “Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of enquiry committee of following officers headed by Secretary to Government, Health and Medical Education Department to go into all procedures and processes followed for procurement of medicine by ISM wing of Health and Medical Education Department during 2016-17 by directorate of Indian System of Medicine, J&K and the steps taken/procedures adopted for ensuring quality of these medicines during procurement.”
The Accounts Officer, Directorate of ISM, has been directed to present an officer to the committee. The committee has been asked to submit its report and recommendations within a week’s time.
This is not for the first time the investigation has been ordered against Dr Kabir as there are around one dozen inquiries and cases pending against him in Vigilance Organization, Crime Branch and Health Department.
Three cases of purchase of spurious drugs are pending against Dr Kabir besides the inquiry ordered by the Government today. A case (Vide No 46/2013) of purchase of spurious drugs in the ISM is pending in Crime Branch Srinagar. Another case of purchase of spurious drugs against him is pending in Vigilance Organization Jammu (48/2015) against him besides this year’s case in Vigilance that has found 5 drugs spurious.
Dr Kabir is accused in embezzlement of Rs 5 crores in Vanaspati Van Society J&K and the case (vide No SLK 46/2011) is registered against him in Vigilance Department Srinagar.
Case (Under SV No 14/2013) of sale of Diploma certificates is under investigation against him in Vigilance Organization Srinagar.  Case (Under PV No 53/2014) of sale of diploma certificates against him is under investigation in Vigilance Organization Jammu.
An order (Vide order No SVC 167 Dated 10-09-2013) of inquiry was issued by State Vigilance Commission against him in Diploma Certificate scandal.
Order of Inquiry was issued by Governor (No GS 557 (G) Apl/2013/3460 dated September 30, 2013) against Dr Kabir in Diploma Certificates case.
A case (Vide No PVK 07/02/2015) of preliminary inquiry against a candidate for holding a fake diploma certificate issued allegedly by ISM Directorate is pending in Crime Branch Srinagar against the candidate.
A departmental inquiry initiated against a compliant (vide file no HD/ISM/92 of 2015) titled Official terrorism by Director ISM is pending in the office of Commissioner/Secretary Health.
A departmental inquiry initiated on a compliant (vide file no HD/ISM/112 of 2016) titled Official Complaints against DG ISM is pending in the office of Commissioner Secretary Health.
The purchasing committee of ISM headed by its Director General who is its chairman is purchasing drugs worth Rs 14 Crore annually under AYUSH Mission, NRHM, and State sector heads.
As per the Minister Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat, if the same drugs are purchased through Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited they are around 80 percent cheaper.
Despite frequent allegations of ISM drugs being sub-standard, the DG ISM has been recently authorized by the Government to purchase drugs for the department till March next year due to delay caused by the Directorate in placing the order through JKMSCL. Sources said that the delay for purchase of drugs was deliberate on part of Directorate and it causes State exchequer loss to the tune of Rs 7 crore.

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