C’garh govt U- turn on key post

The Chhattisgarh government’s decision to appoint the head of drug purchase committee, that is in the eye of storm in the wake of death of 14 poor women following botched sterilisations in free health camps in Bilaspur district in the state, as chief medical health officer ( CMHO) of the same district has triggered protests forcing it to revoke the order within one hour.

The manner in which the appointment was made and then revoked has given rise to suspicion in several quarters on the alleged cover- up attempt by the state government in the incident.

A senior officer in state health department on Monday disclosed to this newspaper that the state government had reportedly ordered transfer of chairman of drug purchase committee, M. S. Jiwani, as in- charge CMHO of Bilaspur district following dismissal of the incumbent R. K. Bhange over the botched surgery tragedy.

The state government, however, made a U- turn by revoking the transfer order within an hour, the officer said requesting anonymity.

Dhamtari district incharge chief surgeon Surjya Prakash Saxena has been appointed in- charge CMHO of Bilaspur district.

In another development, the state government has placed state deputy drug controller Hemant Srivastav under suspension on charges of promoting spurious drugs.

Mr Srivastav has reportedly recommended to honour the controversial drug firm, Mahawar Pharmaceutical Private Limited, with Good Manufacturing Practice ( GMP) award for 2014 despite the fact that the company’s licence had been suspended eight times in 2011.

In fact, the state government on different occasions in 2010- 12 had banned six drugs manufactured by the company due to substandard quality.

But, the company’s product, Ciprocin 500 mg, that allegedly caused the sterilisation tragedy, had earlier passed the litmus test of state drugs department.