Odisha police intensifies drive against hoarding, black marketing of COVID essentials

Bhubaneswar: Continuing the drive against hoarding and black marketing of COVID essentials, a joint flying squad comprising Drug Inspectors, Special Task Force ( Crime Branch) officials  and local police raided various pharmaceutical firms in several placses, including the Twin City.

The team conducted the search drive at Chandni Chowk in Cuttack, a hospital in Bhubaneswar, 14  medical stores in Balasore and three medical stores in Jajpur. The drive was also carried out at various medical stores, stock depots, oxygen filling centres in Sambalpur, Koraput, Bhadrak and Balangir.

“The records and stocks of entry and supply of COVID medicines and related items were verified. Distribution details were collected and the medical firms and hospitals were directed to submit daily updates on distribution of COVID-19 drugs,” informed police sources.

Sources added that, based on information that C&F agents and stockists in other states are supplying COVID injections (remedesvir) to patients and hospitals outside the state without any authentication, advisory is being issued to all C&F agents and stockists in Odisha to refrain from any such irregularity. Strong action under criminal laws will be taken against those indulged in hoarding, black marketing or any illegal act.

Earlier, the Government formed a State Level Committee comprising ADGP (Crime) as Chairman and Health Department Joint Secretary and Drugs Controller as members to prevent hoarding and black marketing of COVID medicines in the state. Seven flying squads in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar and 15 in rest parts of the state are actively carrying out the enforcement.

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