Bhubaneswar: In an aim to root out the duplicate Telma 40 tablets selling racket, the Odisha Government has sought help of Bihar Government, where the duplicate medicines are allegedly being produced.
Huge quantities of fake Telma-40 and Telma-AM tablets, used to treat high blood pressure, were seized during raids by officials of the state Drug Controller in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar recently.
Following hue and cry, the Twin City Police Commissionerate has arrested Sanjay Jalal, owner of Puja Enterprises, and Rahul Syal, proprietor of VR Agencies, over their alleged involvement in the supply and sale of the fake medicines.
Now, the Health and Family Welfare (F&FW) Department has sought the support of Bihar Government to expedite further investigation in this case.
State Government has said the fact is that two drugs i.e. Telma 40 Tablet, claimed to be manufactured by- Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., At- Village- Kishanapura, Baddi, Dist- Solan (HP), East Sikkim-737135 and Telma AM Tablet has also claimed to be manufactured by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., SamlikMarchak, Industrial Growth centre, East Sikkim-737135 have been found to be spurious as per Drugs & Cosmetics Act based on report received from original manufacturer.
The said drug was supplied to Odisha by a firm named Balaji Drug Point, Jail Press Road, Gaya, Bihar, the letter pointed out.
In this connection, the drugs controller, Government of Bihar has been requested vide letter No. 5371 dated 07.09.2022 as well as letter No. 5391 dated 09.07.2022 to provide the details of supply made to the State of Odisha. But, no feedback has been received from the Directorate of Drugs Control, Bihar till date, the State Government said.
State Government has urged his Bihar counterpart to ask the Drugs Controller, Bihar to submit the reply to the above letter to expedite the investigation.
“You will appreciate that matters related to spurious drugs must be attended to with utmost urgency in larger public interest as the above mentioned drugs are used in blood pressure,” said the letter.
Hence, a team consisting of two officers accompanied by police officers will be deputed to Bihar to carry forward further investigation in this matter.
In this context, a team consisting of Assistant Drugs Controllers TusharRanjanPanigrahi and DharmadevPuhan will proceed to Bihar to obtain details of a firm from Drugs Control Ammonisation, Bihar, which is involved in supply of Spurious drugs.
Hence, it is requested that necessary instructions may kindly be issued to the concerned authorities to extend their cooperation to the team deputed for the purpose so as to take things to a logical conclusion, the State Government pointed out.
