NHRC notices to the Centre, Delhi and UP governments over the reported busting of a syndicate selling spurious cancer drugs

NEW DELHI:The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that an international racket manufacturing and selling spurious life-saving cancer medicines has been busted in Delhi. As per the news report, 7 members of this syndicate have been arrested. They include an MBBS doctor, the owners of three pharmaceutical companies, and one engineer. Two more doctors under the scanner are absconding.

The Commission has observed that the content of the media report, if true, amounts to a gross violation of the Right to Life of innocent cancer patients. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi calling for a detailed report in the matter, within 6 weeks.

The Commission has also called reports from the Chief Secretaries of the Governments of NCT of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh within six weeks how in a surreptitious manner without caring about the stringent provisions of Drug and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, the fake drugs syndicate including public servants, is continuing endangering the life of patients.

The reports must contain data reflecting the locations where these fake drugs were supplied and consumed by the patients, the impact of the fake drugs on the patients reflecting the details of adverse effects of the spurious drug, and the present health status of such patients. The Commission would also like to know about the progress of the police investigation in the matter including the arrest of the remaining perpetrators who are reportedly absconding and evading arrest by the police.