Anti-venom row: Govt blacklists pharma co

Panaji: Govt has decided to blacklist and forfeit the earnest money deposit (EMD) of supplier and distributor M/s Arav Pharma, who has been accused of supplying spurious anti-snake venom to health services.Govt has decided to temporarily suspend all purchases from M/s Arav Pharma. The public health department informed the directorate of health services about the govt’s decision, as the former procures and supplies drugs to all health centres and district hospitals under it.Following the complaint last month, the health services withdrew the anti-snake venom lyophilised batch suspected to be counterfeit received from Arav Pharma.

The supplier was issued a show cause notice, which he has challenged before the Bombay high court. The high court refused it relief in the form of quashing the show notice and directed to respond to the notice.The public health department has also instructed the directorate of health services to verify authorisation by manufacturers to distributors for the sale of drugs to ascertain the authenticity of drugs to be supplied and avoid such possible purchases.