13 arrests in Pakistan in contaminated medicines scandal
Phil Taylor, 29-Mar-2012
The authorities in Pakistan have
arrested 13 people in relation to the recent tragedy involving
dozens of deaths among patients treated at the Punjab Institute of
Cardiology.
It is now estimated that 150 people may have lost their lives
following exposure to contaminated medicines. Many of the patients
who received the medicines are reported to have been given them
free of charge.
The investigation now seems to be focusing in on the activities of
Karachi-based Efroze Chemicals Industries, medicine supply company
Umer Trading and certain PIC officials, according to local news
reports. A manufacturing facility linked to the case was shut
down in January.
The identity of the drug responsible for the deaths is still being
probed. Initial reports have pointed to Efroze's Isotab (isosorbide
mononitrate), a widely used cardiovascular drug which on
examination by regulatory laboratories in the UK and US was found
to be contaminated with an antimalarial compound called
pyrimethamine which caused bone marrow suppression.
Among those arrested are 10 employees of Efroze, including owner
and managing director Muhammad Abdullah Feroz, deputy managing
director Nadir Feroz and technical director Khurram Munaf.
Yesterday, the go-ahead was given to police to hold the detainees
for an additional three days ahead of a court appearance scheduled
for March 31.
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