In a shocking revelation, substandard iron tablets manufactured by Bajaj company have been found circulating in government hospitals across Maharashtra, including in Nagpur — putting thousands of thalassemia patients at grave risk. Raising the alarm in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, MLA Vikas Thakre demanded an immediate investigation into the supply of these poor-quality medicines.
“This is criminal negligence. Patients suffering from a life-threatening condition like thalassemia are being handed defective drugs. How many lives are we willing to risk before we act?” Thakre asked, slamming the health department for failing to ensure drug quality.
Responding to the demand, Minister of State for Health Meghna Sakore-Bordikar assured the House that a full-scale inquiry will be conducted and strict action taken against those responsible.
Thakre didn’t stop there. He also called for the state to make HPLC testing mandatory before marriage to prevent the spread of thalassemia, a genetic disorder. “If both partners test positive, marriage must be legally discouraged. Prevention is the only cure,” he said. Bordikar indicated that the government is considering legislation on this front and will conduct a feasibility study soon.
Highlighting the financial burden on patients, Thakre demanded a ₹15 lakh assistance package for bone marrow transplants — a procedure costing over ₹30 lakh. He also pushed for a dedicated transplant unit in Nagpur, warning, “Thalassemia patients can’t afford to wait — they need solutions now, not tomorrow.”
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com