Chhattisgarh sterilisation deaths: Huge quantities of sub-standard drugs seized

Raipur: Chhattisgarh government today seized around 43.34 lakh tablets of various "sub-standard" drugs manufactured by Mahawar Pharma, in the wake of the sterilisation camp tragedy in the Bilaspur district.

The company is among those, which had supplied allegedly poor-quality drugs to the women who underwent surgeries at the camps. In today's action, around 29 lakh tablets were seized from Farishta Complex and sundry medical stores in the city, an official release said. The seized drugs included Suprin, Ibrofen, Nerotina TZ, Reactive Plus and Chloroquine.

Huge stocks were also seized in Rajnandgaon, Surajpur Surguja Dhamtari, Balod, Durg, Mahasamund and Janjgir Champa districts, it said. The seized drugs included Ciprocin-500 tablets, which had been given to the victims of sterilisation camps in Bilaspur. The action was taken on the directive of Chief Minister Raman Singh, the statement said.

Controller, Food and Drug Administration, Ravi Prakash Gupta has already suspended sale and supply of products of the Mahawar Pharma Private Limited. 13 women died and around 138 fell ill after undergoing tubectomies at state-run sterilisation camps in Bilaspur district earlier this week.

The Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary Dr Alok Shukla today spoke to the district collectors and chief medical and health officers through video conference and asked them to be vigilant.

Earlier in the day, Mahawar Pharma Pvt Ltd's Director Ramesh Mahwar and his son Sumit were arrested under section 420 of IPC for cheating, Raipur Superintendent of Police O P Pal said.