Drugs by Indian pharma firms being used to execute prisoners in US

A UK-based legal activist group said on Friday that drugs supplied by Indian pharmaceutical companies were being diverted for use in lethal injections to execute prisoners in the US.

The organisation,Reprieve,said in November,485 grams of sodium thiopental from a Swiss-Indian pharmaceutical firm,meant for medicinal use in Zambia,were diverted through an Indian businessman to the US to execute prisoners in Nebraska.

Eight months ago,it was reported that a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical firm was supplying sodium thiopental,used as an anaesthetic,to the US for execution of prisoners.

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This is blatant perversion of the health industry. Nebraska must return the product to firm without delay, said Maya Foa,a Reprieve member. Foa said she will be in Delhi next week to discuss the issue with the Drug Controller of India and health ministry.

Earlier,after Hospira,the sole US manufacturer of sodium thiopental,ceased to produce the drug,European countries including the UK,Italy and Germany declined requests to supply the drug. Consequently,Indian companies were approached.

The Food and Drugs Association (Maharashtra) officials said they have no role to play in the matter as purchase and sale of the drug is legitimate.

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