Substandard drugs: Punjab government trying to escape duties by shifting responsibility to Centre, says Firdous

Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has blamed Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif that he is exhibiting one-man show in the province which has resulted in killing of several innocent people after taking sub-standard drugs.
Firdous was addressing a press conference here on Thursday. She said that unfortunately Punjab government is trying to escape its duties by shifting responsibility to the federal government.
"It is responsibility of the provinces to check the quality and ingredients of the drugs before purchase", she emphasised. She added that following the passage of 18th amendment health has become a provincial subject and the federal government is now only responsible for registering the medicine companies.
She said that the Punjab government should expose elements involved in killing of innocent people, which have taken spurious drugs. "Mian Shahbaz Sharif and the PML-N leadership must take stern action against those involved in death of around hundred heart patients and should not play politics on this sad incident by taking effective action against the responsible, she said.
Firdous highlighted that the federal government and PPP leadership in Punjab are ready to extend all out assistance to Punjab government for exposing elements involved in the business of counterfeit drugs." Awan said that Punjab has around 500 drug inspectors and it is responsibly of the provincial government to check and monitor the standard of the medicines.
"In presence of independent media no one can cheat and misguide the people", she noted and added that suspension of the Medical Superintendent (MS) is not the solution of the problem. The minister said that federal government is also serious to look into this matter as under its directives, Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) is also probing the issue and its findings will be made public.