THE Lae City Council and the Health Department are both carrying their own investigations into the dumping of some prescription drugs at Voco Point following a report in The National yesterday.
Simon Ipam, the commander of the council’s policing unit, said they were treating seriously as it involved the safety of the people and environment.
Another officer said: “This (Voco Point) is not a dumping ground. Such drugs should never be dumped there at all. There are proper and safe ways to dump those things.”
The officer-in-charge of the Health Department’s area medical store, Polume Jonathan, gave an assurance that the expired drugs, which are only issued on prescription to treat stomach ulcers, diabetes, flu, asthma and other illnesses, did not come from his stocks.
He also shared the police’s concern that some people might have already collected some of the drugs to sell to unsuspecting buyers.
The medical store distributes drugs to Eastern Highlands, Morobe, Sandaun, Oro and the Kandrian District of West New Britain.
Mr Ipam advised the public not to buy prescription drugs on the open market because of the risks involved.
The medical registrar of the Angau Memorial Hospital told The National on Sunday that the drugs were probably dumped at the popular recreation area by private clinics or pharmacies.