59 Medicines, Including Paracetamol, Fail Quality Standards

 

New Delhi, Special Correspondent: During inspections conducted by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in the month of August, 59 medicines failed to meet quality standards. A notice has been issued for these medicines, which include calcium supplements, vitamin tablets, BP (blood pressure) medicines, sugar control drugs, antibiotics, and paracetamol.

The alert issued states that these medicines were found to have various deficiencies such as:

• Incomplete Dissolution: The medicine does not dissolve properly in the body.
• Incorrect Dosage Composition: The active ingredients were not present in the required quantities.
• Manufacturing Defects: Issues related to production processes.

Frequent Inspections:

CDSCO conducts monthly inspections and tests 30,000 to 40,000 samples collected from different parts of the country to ensure that the medicines available in the market are safe for public use. In July alone, 70 medicines were found to be substandard.

Government Measures:

The government has imposed a ban on medicines with substandard composition. In August, a prohibition was placed on 156 fixed-dose combination drugs due to quality issues. These drugs were widely used as over-the-counter medications for cough, cold, pain relief, and as multi-vitamin and antibiotic combinations.

The authorities have ordered the withdrawal of these substandard medicines from the market, and companies have been directed to ensure that all affected batches are removed to maintain public safety and prevent the distribution of ineffective or harmful medications.