The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) found 61 medicines, cosmetics and Ayurvedic products to be “not of standard quality”. These include life-saving formulations for diabetes, cosmetics, Ayurvedic products, aloe vera, glycerin, Vitamin E soap, jojoba oil and Haridrakandam, which is used to treat skin allergies.
Prior to this, there had been several instances of Indian medicines failing quality tests abroad, raising questions over the reputation of the Indian pharmaceutical industry.
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The quality of drugs and cosmetics in India is regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The medicines which failed the Indian regulator’s inspection included Esomeprazole Gastrointestinal Resistant Tablets 40 mg used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, Amoxicillin and Potassium Clavulanate Injection used to manage bacterial infections, Glipizide and Metformin tablets for diabetes treatment, Ethamsylate Tablets 500 mg used to treat bleeding, Iron and Folic Acid Syrup and Albendazole tablets used to treat parasitic infections.
In February, India’s Drugs Controller General Rajiv Raghuvanshi instructed state licensing authorities to monitor medicines in the market by analysing samples periodically, with the aim of maintaining a centralised monthly database of counterfeit and non-compliant drugs.
The CDSCO’s June drug alert also found that Amrohart AT tablets, used to treat cardiovascular diseases, Montho LC tablets, used to treat respiratory infections and Alpracan 0.5 tablets, used to manage neurological diseases, were found to be substandard. Samples were tested at central and state laboratories.
Various types of soaps and Ayurvedic products containing aloe vera, vitamin E and jojoba oil were inferior products that fell under the category of cosmetics.
During the 100-day agenda meeting, Union Health Minister JP Nadda directed officials to ensure safety and quality of medicines in the country.
Questions sent to a Ministry of Health spokesman had not been answered by the time of going to press.
