Three hospital staff detained for supplying Avastin
PHOTO: FILE
Police claimed to have arrested three suspects involved in distributing the Avastin injections, which is reportedly causing blindness in victims of eye-infections.
This was disclosed by SP Model Town Ammara Sherazi when she addressed journalists at a press conference on Wednesday. She said that the arrested accused included dispenser Bilal Rasheed, proprietor Naveed Abdullah and licence holder Asim Khalid.
Asim was arrested in Faisalabad, while Bilal Rasheed was detained in Arifwala. The accountant for the accused, Khuram Aziz, was also arrested. The suspects had established a Cancer Care Center in a private hospital in Faisal Town and would prepare 83 injections from a single vial of Avastin and supply it to different parts of Punjab.
SP Sherazi continued that drug dispensation was not allowed according to their license and the preparation of injections is a sensitive process that must be conducted in a well-equipped environment. However, safety regulations were being flagrantly violated in this case.
The police have written to the Punjab Healthcare Commission to take notice of the hospital that allowed the use of their space for the preparation and dispensation of Avastin and other illegal purposes.
She added that complaints from Drugs Controller Kasur were received for the first time, stating that people had been losing their eyesight after administering the injection. He forwarded the matter to Drugs Controller Lahore and the police took action in turn.
On the other hand, the arrested accused maintained their innocence while addressing the media, stating that as license holders, they had been performing their duties professionally.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2023.