Antibiotic found spurious, company blacklisted

The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to blacklist a pharmaceutical company and cancel its drug licence for supplying substandard antibiotic medicines meant for government hospitals, the state Assembly was informed today.
A three-member committee has been set up to investigate the issue of substandard antibiotic Maximizin-625 supplied by Life Line Pharamaco Surgical Ltd, Health Minister Shabir Ahmed Khan said in a statement.
He also said the Controller Drug Stores, Kashmir has been placed under suspension and attached with the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu pending enquiry.
He said a committee comprising Special Secretary, Financial Advisor Health and Medical Education Department and Controller Drug and Food Organisation has been constituted to enquire into the matter thoroughly and submit its report within 15 days for taking necessary action against the accused firm.

He said a complaint has been also lodged with police for investigation and all payments to the tune of Rs 8.56 lakh to the firm have been withheld.
The Chairman Central Purchase Committee has been directed to initiate the process of black listing the firm, he said.

He said the medicine (Maximizin-625) was lifted from Provincial Medical Store, Barzulla on February 2 and the sample was sent to Drug Testing Laboratory, Srinagar for analysis where it was found to be sub-standard.
Earlier, Medical Education Minister Taj Mohideen told reporters, "A criminal case has been registered against the company for the supply of fake amoxicillin capsules, endangering the lives of thousands of patients in the state."

"The capsules do not contain any anti-body and patients can die during post-operative care as these capsules are given to them from hospitals during post operative care", he said.
"It is a heinous crime. I am ashamed of officers and others who have passed these drugs before testing them", he said.
The Pharma company had supplied 50,000 Maximizen capsules worth Rs 10 lakh out of which 80 per cent were consumed, he added.