Chandigarh, June 13 -- Health minister Dr Balbir Singh on Thursday said that Captab Biotech, Solan, the pharmaceutical firm responsible for manufacturing and supplying non-standard quality IV (intravenous) fluid (normal saline) bottles to the Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC) has been banned for three years from participating in any tender of Punjab government and its security deposit has been forfeited.

Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan here, the minister said besides banning the firm for three years, all the contracts for 11 items being supplied to PHSC by the firm have also been cancelled with immediate effect.

"The firm's security of Rs.3.30 lakh has been forfeited, and pending payments have been withheld," the mi...