NEW DELHI, June 22:
A Government reward under a whistle blower scheme to encourage public participation in the detection of movement of spurious drugs in the country seem to have no takers even five years after it was launched.
According to the scheme, which was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in August 2009, the informers would be suitably rewarded for providing information in respect of movement of spurious drugs to regulatory authorities.
A reward of up to a maximum of 20 per cent (not exceeding to Rs 25 lakh) of the total cost of consignments of fake drugs seized will be payable to any informer.
Replying to an RTI query, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Health Ministry said no person has been rewarded under the scheme.
“After investigations, all the complaints received so far have been found to be fictitious. No person has accordingly been rewarded under the scheme till date,” it said in reply to an RTI application filed by PTI.
As many as 572 drugs samples were declared spurious or adulterated between 2008 and July 2013.
Of these, 157 samples were reported adulterated in 2008-09, 117 during 2009-10, 95 in 2010-11, 133 during 2011-12 and 70 between April 2012 and July 2013, the reply said.
“The country’s hold on international pharmaceutical market, especially the status enjoyed by it in providing high quality drugs on cheapest prices invited some unhealthy competition from various quarters.
“Internationally, the vested interests are supplying spurious medicines manufactured by them but with ‘Made in India’ label,” said a background note on the reward scheme.
There is no dearth of good intentioned people who may wish to work for the country’s interests as the whistle blowers in eradicating the menace, it said.
“People’s participation is imperative in this regard and would be a highly effective step in augmenting the efforts of taking on the elements engaged in such illicit trade of spurious drugs,” the note cited as reasons for starting the whistle-blower scheme.
As per rules, any drug deemed to be adulterated or spurious which is likely to cause death or grievous hurt shall be punishable with imprisonment not less than 10 years extendable to imprisonment for life and also liable to fine of not less than Rs 10 lakh or three times value of the drugs confiscated, whichever is more.
So far, 16 states and union territories including Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Jammu-Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haver, among others have designated special courts for trial of offences relating to Drugs and Cosmetics Act. (PTI)
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