Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The Government of Goa has ordered the temporary suspension of all purchases from a pharmaceutical distributor after a batch of anti-snake venom injection supplied to the state was suspected to be counterfeit.
According to a communication issued by the Public Health Department of Goa, the batch of Inj Anti Snake Venom Lyophilised (Batch No. 01AS25007) is suspected to be counterfeit or spurious.
The government has directed the Directorate of Health Services to immediately halt procurement from the supplier Aarav Pharma until the investigation is completed.
The order further states that the suspected supply is under scrutiny at both the Directorate of Health Services and Goa Medical College and Hospital to determine the authenticity of the drug.
Pending the outcome of the probe, the government has also decided to initiate action to blacklist the agency and forfeit its Earnest Money Deposit (EMD).
Authorities have also been instructed to verify the authorization provided by manufacturers to distributors supplying medicines to government institutions in order to ensure the authenticity of drugs and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The directive, issued by Under Secretary (Health-II) Sitaram G. Sawal, has been marked “most urgent”, asking the health authorities to take necessary action immediately.
