No role in purchase of spurious medicines: J&K Minister

Denying his involvement in the purchase of sub-standard medicines, J&K Irrigation Minister Sham Lal Sharma, who previously held the health ministry portfolio, today claimed the issue of procurement of spurious drugs was being politicised to damage his reputation.
"The purchase of medicines was the job of a committee headed by Principal Medical College and health ministry had no role in it," said Sharma, who held the health ministry portfolio before January 15 cabinet expansion.
"A minister has no role in purchase of medicine," Sharma said and alleged, "There was a deliberate attempt to politicise the issue".
The Jammu and Kashmir government on April 5 blacklisted a pharma company for supplying fake amoxicillin capsules to the ministry of Medical Education, endangering lives of thousand of patients in the state.

Alleging Sharma's involvement in the drug scandal, several associations of doctors have demanded Sharma to resign from the cabinet to ensure a free and fair probe.
Refuting allegations that the pharma company involved in the scandal was owned by his relative, Sharma said: "I have no relation with the company and neither do I know about it".
"The committees meant for the procurement of medicine is headed by Prinicipal Government Medical College Srinagar and Principal Government Medical College Jammu, and when I took over as the minister I continued with the system. I only asked for more transparency and introduced the drug policy," he said.