'Wrong Cancer drug given at RCC: No delay in legal action against drug company'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Human Rights Commission has ordered action against the company for mishandling the medicine supplied to the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC). The Human Rights Commission has ordered that legal action against the company that supplied the medicine be completed without delay. The order of the Commission Chairman Justice Alexander Thomas comes in the wake of the discovery of chemotherapy pills for lung cancer in a packet of medicine for brain cancer at the RCC. The action was taken in a case registered by the Commission on its own initiative based on a newspaper report. The Commission had ordered a thorough investigation into the complaint.

The controversy began with a prescription received at the pharmacy on July 9 last year. When the medicine Temozolomide 100 mg was taken from the medicine rack, two packets (from a set of 10, containing 5 tablets each) were found labelled Etoposide 50 mg. This was reported to the RCC Director by the Commission. The medicine found in the packet was different from the one labelled. Subsequently, five bottles were taken into custody by the Drugs Controller and produced in court. Legal action has been taken against the company that supplied the medicine. The company has been blacklisted. The Drugs Controller, who was present at the sitting, confirmed these matters. Subsequently, Justice Alexander Thomas issued an order to the RCC Director.