Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 27: Doctors today said that Government has failed to curb the menace of spurious drugs in the valley and has been unable to provide quality drugs to people.
President Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Dr Nisar ul Hassan today in a statement said the illegal business in the Valley is an organized crime supported by powerful vested interests
“Everyday people die because of this criminal activity and masterminds are let off. There is a deep rooted nexus between shoddy pharma companies and some power houses that pump massive quantities of spurious drugs in the Valley,” he said.
India is the capital of counterfeit drugs and according to WHO, India accounts for 35% of world’s spurious drug market. In an estimate 40% of Indian pharma market is under the grip of spurious drugs, he said.
The amended Spurious Drug Act in 2008 contains stringent provisions such as maximum penalty of life imprisonment, making the offence cognizable and non-bailable and designating special courts so that judicial proceedings can be expediting.
He said the new law has provisions for reward to “whistleblowers” who can take risk of providing information about the perpetrators of the crime.
Because of serious implications of spurious drugs on public health, “Mashlekar Committee” recommended death penalty for the offence which is a practice in countries like Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.
“The menace of spurious drugs in the Valley will remain unabated because the perpetrators of crime are rewarded and Whistleblowers are prosecuted which is abuse of the amended law,” he said.
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