Chandigarh, February 26 – The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today demanded the immediate dismissal of Health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and registration of a case against him for diversion of five crore buprenorphine tablets which are used to treat narcotic addiction to private centres.
Talking to newsmen here on this scam, former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said Health minister Balbir Sidhu was directly responsible for the Rs 200 to Rs 300 crore scam as he indulged in a cover up exercise after the issue was flagged by the Health Secretary who even ordered an inquiry into the matter.
Giving details, Mr Majithia said when five crores out of a total of 8.3 crores of buprenorphine tablets went missing it caused concern in the Health department because this tablet is given only under prescription and is never given into the custody of patients. He said under the present format the tablet is put under the addict’s tongue physically by the medical practitioner.
Mr Majithia said when it came to light that the tablets were being diverted illegally, the Health Secretary ordered an inquiry but the Health minister over ruled him and asked the respective Civil Surgeons to send a status report. He said attempts were also made to transfer the Health Secretary and that when that failed the minister ordered a physical checking when medicine had been distributed online. He said in January this year the minister Balbir Sidhu tried to close the case by issuing a warning to erring officials when the Health Secretary was on leave.
Mr Majithia said though the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had initiated an inquiry into the case of the missing buprenorphine tablets, the Punjab government was sleeping over the matter. “A comprehensive independent inquiry is needed in the case to bring the guilty to book”.
The former minister said this was not all. He said the Health minister had also shown undue favour to Rusan Pharma which had been black listed after its medicine failed mandatory tests. He said instead of taking strict action against the Pharma company, it was reinstated on the government panel.