Bhubaneswar/ Kalinga Voice: In continuation to drive against hoarding/ black marketing of COVID essentials, in the last 24 hours, the Joint Flying Squads comprising Drug Inspectors, officials of Crime Branch, Special Task Force, and local Police conducted verification in various pharmaceutical firms at Chandni chowk, Cuttack, a Hospital in Bhubaneswar, 14 numbers of medical stores in Balasore and 3 numbers in Jajpur. Verification was also carried out at various medical stores/stockist depots/oxygen filling centers in Sambalpur, Koraput, Bhadrak, Bolangir, and elsewhere. The records and stocks of entry and supply of COVID medicines and related items were verified. Distribution details were collected and the medical firms/hospitals were directed to submit daily updates on the distribution of COVID-19 drugs.
To prevent hoarding and black marketing of COVID medicines in the State, the State Level Committee comprising ADGP, Crime as Chairman and Joint Secretary, Health Department and Drugs Controller as Members, has been formed by the Government of Odisha. 07 Flying Squads in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar and 15 in the rest of the State are actively carrying out the enforcement.
ADGP, Crime reviewed the enforcement drive. Verification of utilization by Hospitals & cross verification of records of Hospitals by contacting beneficiaries has been intensified in the state. Decoys are being sent and intelligence has been geared up.
Based on information in other states that C&F agents/stockists are supplying covid injections (Remedesvir) to patients/hospitals outside the state, without any authentication, an advisory is being issued to all C&F agents and stockists in Odisha to refrained from any such irregularity. Strong action under criminal laws will be taken against anyone indulging in hoarding, black marketing or any illegal acts.
