Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Nov 5: More skeletons are likely to tumble out in the closet of supplying spurious Ayurvedic /Unani medicines to Government Dispensaries across Jammu as ongoing Vigilance investigations have revealed alleged nexus between authorities at the helm of affairs and the suppliers, following which more drug samples of a company have been seized while Laboratory test report of some medicines, seized earlier, is learnt to be positive.
In furtherance of its ongoing investigation, the sleuths of Vigilance Organization have seized two medicines, supplied by a particular company to the Department of Indian System of Medicines (ISM) and samples of the same have been dispatched to a prominent Lab, outside the State, for expert analysis, authoritative sources told the Excelsior.
The fresh samples were lifted following revelation of money transaction between this company and two close aides of the incumbent Director ISM, who were associated with the procurement process and allegedly favoured the supplier for monetary consideration, sources added.
Even as said aides of the Director are doctors in the ISM Department, sources disclosed that the duo was not posted in the field but attached to the Directorate for allegedly facilitating supply order to the selective companies.
The nexus came to fore during ongoing investigations by Vigilance Organization but the samples, seized earlier on the charge of sub-standard and spurious drugs, were not of the company involved in transaction of money to these doctors and therefore, according to the sources, fresh raids were conducted for seizure of drugs of this company.
It may be recalled that on September 9, Vigilance Organization had seized spurious and sub-standard Ayurvedic/Unani medicines, which were procured and supplied to various Government dispensaries across Jammu province, this year. Pursuant to inputs that Department of ISM had procured spurious and sub-standard Ayurvedic / Unani drugs and medicines from different companies with ulterior motives and against huge monetary considerations, a Joint Surprise Check (JSC) was conducted by the sleuths of Vigilance Organization, Jammu, Samba and Kathua under the supervision of SSP Vigilance Shabir Ahmad Malik.
The Vigilance teams had lifted samples and records from Ayurvedic Dispensary of Parli Wand, Kathua Town, Ayush Unit of Kathua District, Ayurvedic Dispensary Hamirpur, Hiranagar, District Medical Officer Kathua, Ayurvedic Dispensaries of Riyan, Nud, District Hospital, Samba. Ayurvedic Dispensaries Bajalta, Surinsar and Aitham.
Most of the drugs were said to be fully fungal infested and not fit for the human consumption. These drugs were procured a few months back and supplied further to various Dispensaries and Units hurriedly across the Jammu province for its immediate utilization. An official spokesman of the Vigilance Organization said that DG ISM, Dr Abdul Kabir Dar and members of Approval Committee were actively involved in procuring of the spurious / sub-standard drugs and medicines.
Meanwhile, according to the sources, Microbial Load Test of the seized drugs, by a reputed Laboratory outside the State, has confirmed that four out of the nine samples, were positive for presence of bacteria and pathogens, which means the drugs were not fit for human consumption.
After the Microbial Load Test, the seized drugs are now being subjected to Heavy Metal Test in the same lab and the investigating agency is expecting that all the 11 samples, including the fresh two, are unlikely to meet the prescribed standards of medicines.
While relevant records have already been seized by the Vigilance Organization, the Lab report of all the samples is likely to be received within days following which a formal FIR against the accused persons in this regard will be registered by the investigating agency for further action, sources said.
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