NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, Sept 8: The provincial adviser on health affairs suspended seven health officers here on Wednesday for buying substandard medicines worth Rs4.8 million for government-run health-care facilities.

The adviser, Faisal Malik, visited the office of the EDO health and checked the medicines purchased from a wholesale supplier of Sukkur.

Reports said that the period of use of medicines was to expire within three months and they were also found short in quantity. The bill for the purchased medicines is yet to paid to the wholesaler company of Sukkur.

The adviser suspended EDO Ali Hyder Korejo, store-keepers Qamar Sahto and Balo, and Dr Asif, Dr Nadeem, Dr Munawwar Qureshi and Dr Khan.

He told journalists that the EDO had purchased 52 unregistered and sub-standard medicines whereas some medicines, which were available in the store, had been again purchased in a week's time. He said that a legal action would be taken against the persons involved in the purchase.