Editorial
Vanishing documents
A serious but much ignored offense
All the documents related to a case of adulteration in paracetamol syrup dating back to 1992 have gone missing from the office of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), the organization responsible for checking drug adulterations.
By 1992, over 2,000 children had allegedly died of renal failure as a result of consuming adulterated paracetamol. The Daily Star has retrieved documents which are confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that a lethal chemical was present in the paracetamol syrups manufactured by 5 companies.
The drug companies involved were spared prosecution and cases were prematurely suspended. Steps to have the complete process of tests documented and recorded were also purposely avoided. This leads us to believe that intentional blocking of this case from moving forward and allowing a proper investigation is a very big possibility. It is not impossible that a collusion between the drug companies and drug administration authorities and the legal system exists.
It is also worthwhile to note that only one drug company's (Rex Pharmaceutical) trial has been completed thus far. Even there, the prosecution failed to prove any adulteration charges and the case was thus dismissed and the accused acquitted in 2003. In 2009, 28 more children were killed due to the toxic paracetamol.
Why such cases involving vital public interest get aborted before they even begin is a mystery. What is clear here is that a blind eye is being turned and the fact that so many innocent children have lost their lives due to this negligence is being regrettably ignored. It will be an utter travesty of justice if these drug companies are free of all charges and the families of the victims do not get justice.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments