Three officials suspended for certifying drug as 'qualified'

Bengaluru, India 9 Sept 2014: The State Drugs Controller has recommended suspension of three officials – Junior Science Officer, Government Analyst and Chief Scientific Officer – for allegedly certifying a drug as ‘qualified’ despite negative report in the test and analysis.

Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary N Sivasailam has submitted before Upalokayukta that the case will be entrusted to Lokayukta for disciplinary enquiry as per service rules.

An enquiry conducted by the Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi had found that drug samples of Ccliya (Clomifene Citrate tablets) were certified as ‘qualified’ despite negative report in the test and analysis.

The complaint was that Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) Sudha Swamy had pressurised Government Analyst Mohammed Saifuddin Rubbani and Junior Scientific Officer Girish M K to prepare a positive report in the testing and analysis of the drug.

The drug samples of Ccliya, used in fertility treatment, was sent back to Government Analyst for repetition of test and analysis. After three repeated tests, CSO approved the report and the message was made known to retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers to prevent the sale of the drug.

However, one more test was conducted and the report was dispatched as “test passed.’’ Drugs Controller Raghurama Bhandary on Tuesday submitted a report stating all the three staff of the State Drugs Testing Laboratory were responsible for arbitrary and negligent testing.

“She (Sudha Swamy) has failed to report to higher authorities regarding approval of the test report as Not of Standard Quality and changing it to Standard Quality even after Not of Standard Quality report information had reached the public domain by way of SMSes and web publication,” the report said.

Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi said the Principal Secretary has assured action within 15 days.

“In view of the submission by the Principal Secretary for Health and Family Welfare Department and promising action to be taken both of disciplinary enquiry as well as criminal proceedings if necessary against the officers, the matter has been posted for further hearing on September 30,” he said.