ISLAMABAD, Sep 24 (APP): Caretaker Minister for Health Dr Nadeem Jan on Sunday said that the sale and dispensation of the injection Avastin has been stopped.
The minister made these remarks after holding a meeting with Provincial Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Care Dr. Jamal Nasir.
He said that the taking immediately action the decision to recall the injection of Avastin causing adverse reaction was taken.
The minister said that upon receiving information from the affected patient regarding adverse reaction of Injection Avastin he immediately contacted the Punjab Health Minister.
He said that FIRs have been lodged against two suppliers of the injection.
He said that a five-member committee of senior doctors and experts has been constituted with the task to probe the matter from all angles and submit a report within three days.
“I am constantly in touch with the Punjab government and we will make sure that the matter is thoroughly probed and action taken against those responsible.”
The affected patients will be looked after properly and all possible facilities will be provided to give them relief.
Dr. Nadeem Jan said that he also discussed with the Punjab Health Minister the dengue situation.
The situation is being managed well by Punjab health authorities, he added.
He said that in the entire Punjab province, 3,500 cases have been reported so far this year whereas, in the corresponding period of last year, the number of cases were 10,000.
He said that there has also been no fatality so far in Punjab as there is a downward trend in dengue cases after October 15. “We need to sustain the measures to control the disease for another three to four weeks with the same zeal and focus.”
He said that on availability of medicines he was informed that at the moment there was no scarcity of essential medicines in the province and adequate stocks were available.
“We are committed to bring tangible improvement in the health sector,” the minister added.
