Agartala: Opposition Congress in Tripura has filed an FIR against three senior state government officials, including the Health Secretary, accusing them of “medical negligence” in controlling malaria outbreak which claimed 68 lives since mid-June.
“Negligence of these three officials was responsible for the death of about 70 people, mostly children. They died of malaria. The government did not follow the national guidelines for controlling malaria,” Congress spokesperson Ashok Sinha charged.
“They bought drugs which are not effective in malaria-prone north eastern region, particularly Tripura”, Sinha, also a medical practitioner who filed the FIR on Thursday last, told PTI.
The FIR named the Director Health Services, Satya Ranjan Debbarma, Secretary Health Services, M Nagaraju and National Health Mission Director of Tripura, S N Mahatme. Sinha alleged the malaria parasite became resistant against some drugs, so it was necessary to apply second generation drugs to control the disease and the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) had issued new guidelines last year which was not followed by the state government.
Sinha further alleged in his FIR that the government issued tender for buying effective drugs when it was too late and many people have already perished in the disease. (PTI)