Odisha Govt Forms Panel To Curb Hoarding, Black Marketing Of Covid-19 Medicines

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha health department on Friday constituted a three-member committee to prevent the hoarding and black marketing of medicines and other essential supplies used for treatment of Covid-19.

Additional DGP (CID, CB), Odisha has been named as the Chairman of the committee while Odisha Drugs Controller will the member-convenor. Besides, an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary from Health Department will be part of the panel.

“In the wake of recent resurgence of Covid-19 in Odisha, it has come to notice that medicines and other medical supplies essential for treatment and prevention of Covid-19 are being hoarded and black marketed by some unscrupulous elements,” said a notification issued by the State Home Department.

“To prevent such hoarding and black marketing of essential supplies and to deal with Covid-19, State Government hereby constitutes a State Level Committee,” the notification added.

The notification further said the district level authorities shall monitor the position of availability of essential medical supplies and take such corrective action as deemed fit, including but not restricted to, search and seizure, as per the provisions of statute.

“The above Committee will supervise the district-wise position of availability of essential medical supplies and ensure that the officers conducting the raids, search and seizure get full cooperation from various agencies, especially Police, wherever required, to prevent any hoarding and black marketing,” it added.