Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Tuesday demanded capital punishment for those involved in manufacture and sale of spurious drugs which is a crime against humanity.
In a statement to KNS President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that death penalty will act as a powerful deterrent and will effectively curb the menace of spurious drugs which is a grave crime as precious human lives are lost.
While expressing dismay over recommendations of Legislative Assembly Committee wherein those involved in spurious drug trade should be booked under PSA, Dr Hassan said that it is a mere eye wash as it is a preventive and not a punitive measure.
“In view of serious implications of spurious drugs on public health, Drug and Cosmetic Act was amended in 2008 which contains stringent provisions such as maximum penalty for life imprisonment. The amended act has provisions to have special courts for handling spurious drug cases so that judicial proceedings can be expedited. Mashlekar Committee in 2003 recommended enhancement of penalty for sale and manufacturing of spurious drugs from life imprisonment to death sentence as the menace endangers human safety,” the DAK president said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“In 2007 former head of China’s state food and drug administration was executed for his involvement in substandard drugs which proved to be a strong deterrent. Kashmir is a safe haven for spurious drugs as the drug market which is in its dragnet is unregulated and unchecked. There is a deep rooted nexus between drug Mafia and shoddy pharma units that pump massive quantities of substandard drugs in the valley,” he added.
The DAK president exposed spurious drug scam in 2013 and since then hundreds of drugs have been declared spurious/substandard, killing children and adults.
“The high number of infant deaths in GB Pant hospital in 2012 which were blamed to logistic issues were because of spurious drugs. Everyday people die of this criminal activity and except for some cosmetic measures nothing is being done to eliminate the menace which seems to be an organized crime supported by certain powerful vested interests,” Dr Hassan added.