Spurious Drugs: 25 Govt officials face action

Probe panel indicts Purchase Committee members for lapses

The state government is contemplating disciplinary action against 25 officials of different government departments involved in the spurious drug scam. The officials have been accused of facilitating purchase of substandard medicines as members of the Purchase Committees. 
General Administration Department (GAD) has asked Financial Commissioner Industries and Commerce, Principal Secretary Finance and Commissioner Secretary Health & Medical Education Department to initiate action against the accused officials in light of the recommendations made in the inquiry report by the then Commissioner Secretary, Rural Development Department, Farooq Ahmed Peer.
“The undersigned is directed to forward herewith a copy of the inquiry report submitted by Farooq Ahmed Peer, Commissioner Secretary Government, Department of Rural Development &Panchyati Raj, vide no S/CS/RD&PR/Inquiry/H&ME/87/2013 dated 25/11/2013 to the Financial Commissioner Industries and Commerce department, Principal Secretary to Finance Department and Commissioner Secretary H&ME and requests them to take necessary action in the matter under the J&K CCA, Rules 1956 under intimation to the GAD,” reads the communication sent by Special Secretary GAD.
As per official records, Peer had submitted his report to the government on 25 November 2013 recommending action against 25 officials for administrative lapses after the inquiry found that as members of the Purchase Committees they approved the rate contract of the drug Maximizin-625 mg in favor of a firm which had failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the contract. 
The Purchase committee had Accounts Officers of GMC Jammu, Medical Superintendent of SMGS hospital, Functional Manager in the Industries and Commerce department as well as the officials in Health and Medical Education department and Drug and Food Control Organization (DFCO) as its members.
Investigations in the infamous spurious drug scam that rocked the state last year found that the members of the verification boards of the hospitals including some senior faculty members of GMC Srinagar, “were found to have approved the drug Maximizin without proper verification of its specifications, label claim and other features.”
Sources said the government is contemplating disciplinary action against the accused officials which may even include dismissal from service. 
Director Health Services Kashmir, DrSaleem-ur-Rehman, said the role of the members of the verification board is under investigation.
“We need to look into the findings of inquiry report submitted to the government before initiating action against the accused officials,” he said.