Fake drugs big health hazard in silver city

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post news network   Cuttack, Sept 7: Patients at the Sriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) face a health hazard due to fake drugs in the city. The availability of counterfeit cancer drugs in some city pharmacies had come to light a few days ago and the government had ordered a probe. Social activists, however, blame a nexus between some doctors, pharmaceutical companies, drugs inspectors and retailers for the illegal trade. Five women had allegedly died after they were administered adulterated saline at SCBMCH in 2000. The Orissa High Court had ordered for a probe by the vigilance department. The vigilance probe had pointed out several glaring irregularities in the procurement of saline bottles by SCBMCH. It had claimed that the authorities had procured saline bottles from two pharmaceutical units which did not have valid licences.  Similarly, three women had died at the genecology department of SCBMCH last year. Social activists had then blamed adulterated saline and fake injections for the tragedy. However, a three-member probe panel claimed that the deaths were due to infection, bleeding and septicaemia.  Many are of the opinion that the fake drugs trade has flourished under the patronage of some greedy and dishonest drugs controllers and inspectors. According to sources, a district administration team led by deputy collector Khetramohan Swain raided an unregistered pharmaceutical unit at Jagatpur industrial estate and seized raw material for manufacturing certain drugs.  Apart from selling counterfeit medicines, some druggists also create artificial shortages of essential drugs to jack up their prices. Though drugs inspectors are aware of the unethical practice, they seldom act against the druggists, sources said. “The district administration is conducting regular raids on pharmacies, pharmaceutical units and hospitals to find out fake drugs and check artificial shortages of medicines,” Swain said.