Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi has formed a new 10-member committee to look into the situation arising from the locally manufactured adulterated Avastin injection that has allegedly resulted in the loss of vision among several diabetic patients in different cities of Punjab. Punjab Health Minister Dr. Javed Akram has been appointed as the head of the investigation committee and Provincial Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr. Jamal Nasir will be the co-convener of the committee.

Other members of the committee include the Punjab Additional Chief Secretary, Punjab Law Secretary, Additional Secretary of Development of Primary Healthcare, King Edward Medical University Vice Chancellor, Department of Specialized Healthcare Additional Secretary (Technical), Professor Dr. Asad Aslam, Director General Drugs Control Punjab, and any other members deemed necessary by the committee.

The committee will thoroughly examine the incident from all aspects and determine the causes and reasons for this unfortunate incident. The committee will analyze current clinical practices regarding the use of this injection and determine whether these practices are adequate. The committee will identify deficiencies in the work of manufacturers, distributors, compounders, suppliers, ophthalmology clinics, and field regulators of the injection, and will determine liability. The committee will present a comprehensive action plan to deal with such incidents in the future. The committee will be able to make any other proposal in this regard based on the information obtained during its work.

 Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)