As per the state drug controller of the Directorate of Health Services, Manipur, the seized item seems to be a fake product and no private individual can procure/possess the drugs used for Covid-19 treatment in critical patients without any proper document from the concerned authority.
TFM Report
Imphal East police arrested a resident of Bihar with 441 vials of DESREM (Remdesivir for injection, 100 mg/vial) — a broad-spectrum antiviral medication used for COVID-19 treatment.
Speaking to the media persons on Tuesday, Imphal East SP N Herojit Singh said that one Lalo Sah (55) s/o (L) Bauku Sah of Sasam Village, Samastipur District, Bihar, PS Hassanpur, was arrested along with the huge consignment of medicine during a routine curfew frisking on Monday. He was detained by a team of Porompat Police Station, led by ASI Md Akhtar Hussain from New Checkon area near tribal market, the SP added.
“Lalo could not produce any document relating to the medicine. So, he was detained for further verification,” added the SP.
Upon formal enquiry with the Health Services authority regarding the medicine, the state drug controller of the Directorate of Health Services, Manipur said that the medicine/drugs have been compared with genuine sample of the same company maintained in the directorate and based on various discrepancies, he certified that the overall impression is that the seized item seems to be a fake product and no private individual can procure/possess the drugs without any proper document from the concerned authority, the SP informed.
According to the label of the seized medicine, it is manufactured by Mylan Laboratories Limited, Sangareddy District, Telengana. Its MRP is labelled Rs 3,400 per vial.
Herojit further said that Lalo came to Imphal along with a person suspected to be the kingpin of the operation from Guwahati in a flight. He left Imphal after telling Lalo that someone will come and pick up the medicine. A case has been registered at Porompat PS and investigation is on, he added.
The Imphal East SP also said that such rackets might be operating in the state for some time. He also said that such medicines are in demand in Myanmar and are being smuggled through Moreh, while maintaining that investigation is on to nab the locals involved in the operation.
The police officer appealed to the public to be vigilant while buying such medicines, since it might compromise the lives of many during the pandemic. He urged the public to buy only from authorised pharmacies.