AIADMK State secretary A. Anbalagan addressing reporters in Puducherry on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The AIADMK has urged health authorities in Puducherry to immediately undertake a safety audit of the medicines in circulation in government and private medical colleges, given the widespread ramifications of the detection of the fake drug manufacturing scam.
A. Anbalagan, AIADMK State secretary, told the media that while the probe by the CB-CID initially and later the Special Investigation Team had led to several arrests, there has been no audit on whether the medicines already in the healthcare system were genuine or spurious.
Though several medical shops had been directed to remove stocks of about 34 labels, no effort had so far been made to check if spurious medicines or surgical consumables had already entered the healthcare system.
Pointing out that it was vital to carry out such an examination as the lives of the people were involved, the AIADMK leader asked the health department to form a team to find out whether the medicines in the hospitals are fake. He also urged Chief Minister N. Rangasamy to take steps to constitute a joint task force of health and drugs control department officials.
On the charge by former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy that spurious medicines were even smuggled from Puducherry to Sri Lanka, Mr. Anbalagan said the investigation agencies entrusted with the probe should seek evidence of these serious charges.
The AIADMK demanded that ₹5,000 be provided to every family as a Pongal festival package. The party leader also sought a minimum wage of ₹13,000 for sanitary workers, who were currently only paid ₹8,000, though they put in several hours of work.
Published – January 05, 2026 04:30 am IST