Amid a spiraling row over the supply of substandard medicines in Delhi hospitals, BJP on Saturday demanded the sacking of Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj as Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI inquiry into the alleged supply of drugs.
Following these allegations, samples were subsequently collected from the government hospitals for testing, the Raj Niwas officials said.
What did the BJP say?
Addressing a press conference, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva blamed the Aam Aadmi Party government for the situation.
"We have the lab and vigilance report. The samples of the medicines being provided in the Delhi government hospitals have failed. We demand that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal immediately sack his health minister," Sachdeva said.
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What did the Congress say?
The Delhi Congress said it is a "serious matter" and action should be taken against the culprits after an investigation.
Reacting to the development, Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely demanded the setting up of a medical board to look into the issue.
"It is a serious problem and a probe must be conducted... A medical board should be constituted by the government so that other medicines can also be tested and action should be taken against those found guilty, he said.
Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said that the investigation should be completed swiftly.
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He emphasised that the issue of substandard medicines is not just a matter of corruption as it puts people's lives at risk.
"Those responsible for this should face strict action," he said.
LG Saxena asks for CBI inquiry
Raj Niwas officials on Saturday said that Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has recommended a CBI inquiry into the alleged procurement and supply of "fake" drugs in Delhi government hospitals.
In a note to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, the Lt Governor mentioned that it is concerning that these medicines are being given to lakhs of patients, they said.
"It is with a sense of deep concern that I have perused the file. I am, to say the least, anguished at the fact that lakhs of hapless people and patients are being supplied fake drugs that have failed quality standard tests," read the note to Kumar.
Drugs orocured by the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) under the Delhi Health Services (DHS), were supplied to Delhi government hospitals and may also have been supplied to the ''Mohalla Clinics', the Lt Governor said in his note.
