Congress protests against fake medicine scam, demands action in 60 days

NAGPUR: On the final day of the winter assembly session, Congress leaders staged a protest against an alleged scam involving fake medicines supplied to government hospitals in Maharashtra. The protest, led by Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve, accused the government of risking public health by allowing substandard medicines to circulate in the healthcare system.

Holding placards with slogans like "Nakli Aushad, Nakli Sarkar" and "Banavati Bahumat, Banavati Aushad," the protest saw a small turnout of 12 participants. However, the allegations raised were serious, with Danve claiming that for the past 1.5 years, fake medicines were supplied to government hospitals by five companies whose details were neither verified nor investigated.

Danve stated that vigilant doctors had identified these fake medicines and stopped their usage, but no timely action was taken by the government. “Complaints were made, yet no investigation was carried out, and the issue persisted for over a year and a half. This reflects the state’s inefficiency and neglect,” Danve alleged.

He further criticized the government for failing to take any action against the companies or the officials responsible. "No records of the fake medicines exist, and the companies involved lack proper documentation or even functioning websites. Despite this, they were given contracts for supplying medicines," Danve said.

He demanded a detailed investigation into the scam within 60 days and warned of larger protests if the issue remained unresolved. “The government is playing with people’s lives. If no action is taken, we will organize a larger agitation in the near future,” he declared.

The Congress leader also emphasized the lack of accountability, pointing out that no minister or official has been held responsible for this severe lapse. He urged the government to prioritize public health and transparency to restore faith in the system.

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.