SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has informed that he has sought a report to ascertain the allegation that outdated medicines worth up to Rs.4 crore had to be disposed off after they were found to have crossed the expiration date.
“Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek had informed me about this development. I have told the officials concerned to submit a detailed report on this,” Sangma said.
He also said that the State Government will not take this issue lightly since this is tantamount to misuse of public money.
“If this is found to be true then stringent action will be initiated against those officials who are responsible for this. We will not spare anyone,” the Chief Minister asserted.
The State Government has already ordered the constitution of two committees to ascertain the allegation that the outdated medicines were lying in the godown and to ensure that medicines are purchased in the future on the basis on demand.
Hek had announced that a health secretary would head the fact-finding committee on outdated medicines while Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Y. Tsering will head the other committee on purchase of medicines.
The first committee would have four members and ascertain whether there were outdated medicines in a government godown which were allegedly disposed off.
There is an allegation that the medicines, which have now become outdated, were worth Rs.4 crore, and purchased with National Health Rural Mission (NRHM) funds. The committee will have to submit its report within 30 days.
The other committee would have to work out mechanisms to ensure that the purchase of medicines should be ‘demand-driven’ instead of ‘supply-driven’ as was the case till date.
