In what is being seen as a strong message to corrupt government officials, the Karnataka state government has suspended BR Venkatesh, a drug control officer for his alleged involvement in a Remdesivir supply racket.
The state government had earlier imposed strict Covid-19 guidelines to combat the deadly rise in the number of the coronavirus cases in Karnataka.
Additionally, the government had also issued instructions to the state’s medical officers and drug control officers to ensure that there was ample stock of Remdesivir and other life-saving drugs in the pharmacies of Covid-19 hospitals across the state.
Keeping with these instructions, 96 vials of Remdesivir injection were supplied to the BGS GIMS Hospital in Bengaluru. However, BR Venkatesh, a drug control officer employed by the state government, allegedly supplied a dose of the Remdesivir to a private agent, instead of arranging for it to be supplied to a Covid-19 patient who needed it at the aforementioned hospital.
Taking cognisance of his misconduct and gross negligence which resulted in an artificial scarcity of the drug, the government swiftly suspended Venkatesh pending further inquiry.
Upon learning about involvement of one BR Venkatesh, a drug control officer, in Remdesivir racketeering, we requested Govt to take strict action
Health Min Sri @mla_sudhakar has given strong message to corrupt officials by suspending him
This is a warning to all such officials. pic.twitter.com/D8HtvSpkoe
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) April 22, 2021
The Karnataka government has now set up a war room to ensure the supply of medical oxygen and Remdesivir at hospitals in Bengaluru.
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