Fake Anti-Covid Drugs: Odisha Govt Constitutes Task Force To Probe

The Odisha government has set up a special task force under the Crime Branch of the State Police to conduct the probe into the illegal trade of counterfeit anti-Covid drugs Favipiravir in Cuttack.

Police DG Abhay informed the media that the CB STF has already initiated discussions with the Drugs Controller of the State over the development and very soon a probe report will be submitted before the government in this regard. 

The State Health Department has already ordered the Drugs Controller and Police to carry out a joint investigation into the transaction of spurious medicines and submit a report soon.

A special squad of Drugs Control had seized a huge cache of anti-viral drug Favipiravir following a raid at a pharmacy in Cuttack on Friday and after laboratory tests, the samples were found to be duplicate. 

Meanwhile, in yet another development, fake medicinal drugs were seized during a raid in Boudh today. Amid state-wide crackdown on trade of duplicate medicines, the Drugs Inspector, Boudh conducted searches to trace out any illegal link at two medicine outlets in the town. 

After investigation, cases have been registered against owners of two medicine shops named Biramitra Dehury and Suresh Meher. Authorities have informed that a probe is underway to ascertain the link of other medicine outlets in the illegal syndicate and also to find out the source of the duplicate medicines.