Two drug officials suspended over case against substandard medicine

A health ministry official today informed the High Court that two officials of Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) have been suspended for their negligence in dealing with case filed over deaths of 28 children in 2009 after taking substandard medicine produced by Rid Pharma.

Health Secretary (service) Sirajul Haque Khan appeared before the High Court bench comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md. Ataur Rahman Khan and said assistant director Shafiqul Islam and deputy director Altaf Hossain of the Directorate General of Drug Administration have been suspended over the matter.

The court exempted the secretary from personal appearance during the future hearing dates as he offered unconditional apology.

The court had ordered the health secretary to appear before it on August 21 and he complied with order. The court on that date wanted to know ministry's action against those two officials, who have been found guilty of negligence in dealing with the sensational case.

The court had asked the ministry official to submit a report in this regard within 72-hour. The ministry submitted a report on August 21, saying the two officials have been warned. After that the court again asked the secretary to appear before the court yesterday to explain ministry's stand on the matter.

The secretary appeared before the court yesterday but the court was not happy with his reply and asked him to appear again today.

Source: BSS