Botched sterilization opearations: Tainted pharma company involved

RAIPUR:Drug manufacturer Mahawar Pharmaceuticals, suspected of churning out rodenticide-laced medicines distributed to the victims of botched sterilizations in Chhattisgarh, had faced a government ban on its products in the past but continued to supply medicines. Investigations by TOI show that state government on different occasions in 2010-12 had banned six drugs manufactured by the company . Drugs banned due to substandard quality include M Cold, Reactive Plus, Flexoplus and Lizhobin.But antibiotic Ciprocin 500mg, which the government banned after the tragedy , had earlier passed the litmus test of state drugs department.

Health minister Amar Agrawal, in whose constituency the botched sterilisations took place, had told the Vidhan Sabha in 2012 that Mahawar Pharmaceuticals had been found guilty of selling "duplicate generic medicines". The minister also informed the House that a case had been lodged against the company on February 2, 2012, in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Raipur. Despite this, the state health department continued to purchase medicines from the firm.

The company was even awarded a 'Good Medical Practice' certificate by the office of State Food and Drug Controller. The certificate, issued in May 2014, is valid for one year.

Speaking to TOI, Mahawar's PR director Rajat Kumar admitted their drugs had earlier been banned.However, he said procurement was restored after the 30-90 day ban period.

While Chhattisgarh government has centralised procurement system for drugs through state medical services corporation, drugs are locally procured by district authorities. Health officials claim every district is authorised to make local purchases in certain situations. Ciprocin 500mg was one such purchase. Meanwhile, company's MD Ramesh Mahawar, who has been arrested, denied any wrongdoing.

He said the government was exaggerating its findings after raids. "We want to make it clear that in our spare store room only a sticky pad to trap rats was found and there was no rat poison," he said.