FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
Congress on Tuesday accused the government of seeking to make “business of sickness” and urged people not to accept the Ivermectin tablets proposed to be distributed by the government as the World Health Organisation has advised against using this tablet to treat COVID-19.
Congress South Goa District Committee President Joe Dias insisted that the tablets not be given to people without clinical trials and appealed to Health Minister Vishwajit Rane not to treat Goans as ‘guinea pigs’.
He pointed out that Rane did not even consult the Indian Medical Association over using the drug and that IMA spokesperson Dr Sandip Naik has clearly stated they were not consulted nor have they given any approval to this drug.
While pointing out that neither the Health Minister nor the Chief Minister has named any expert who recommended the use of Ivermectin, Dias said this was a scam of Rs 22.50 crore because of which they are trying to push the tablet.
He said that secrecy shrouds the whole process by which these tablets were even procured. “Was there any tender floated to procure these tablets? Who was awarded the contract and at what price?” Dias asked and said the government’s silence on these questions makes them believe that there is a major scam.
He accused the government of playing with the lives of the people as besides WHO, Dr Faheem Yonus who is the head of Infectious Diseases at Maryland University and other scientists and experts have advised against using Ivermectin to treat COVID.
