By: Alexandra Cowley
acowley@abc6.com
The New England Compounding Center is responsible for the fatal, nationwide outbreak of Fungal Meningitis. That's according to Massachusetts' Health and Human Services Secretary Judy Ann Bigby.
Bigby told lawmakers at a hearing Wednesday that state overseers and the managers of the Framingham based pharmacy bear the responsibility for the outbreak that sickened 440 people and killed 30. Bigby also stated that the State Board of Pharmacy failed to take appropriate action to in tightening oversight on the company.
She called a decision made by the board to weaken a proposed reprimand and probation of the center in 2006 'inexplicable.' The decision allowed the center to operate without disciplinary action.
Bigby said there are up to 26 additional sterile compounding pharmacies in the state.
