Central Drug Authority Flags Over 50 Substandard Drugs in Latest Report

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has identified over 50 drug samples, including popular medications like paracetamol and anti-diabetes pills, as 'not of standard quality.' The flagged drugs are from numerous well-known pharmaceutical companies and failed various quality tests. Monthly inspections aim to ensure drug safety standards.

The country's central drug regulatory authority has identified more than 50 drug samples, including common medications such as paracetamol and anti-diabetes pills, as 'not of standard quality' in its latest report.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) flagged the substandard batches from companies including Alkem Laboratories, Hindustan Antibiotics Limited, and Hetero Labs Limited, among others in its August drug alert.

The report highlighted issues in drugs like Shelcal, Vitamin B Complex with Vitamin C Softgels, and Ciprofloxacin tablets.

High blood pressure medications Telmisartan and Atropine Sulphate, along with antibiotics like Amoxicillin and Potassium Clavulanate tablets, also failed to meet quality standards.

Some batches failed the 'dissolution test' and other quality checks like 'assay' and 'water' test, while others were identified as spurious or had uniformity of volume issues.

An official source stated that the list of substandard drugs is updated monthly, and action is taken against manufacturing firms when discrepancies are found.

The report indicated that several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Himachal Pradesh, did not provide any data for the August 2024 Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) Alert.

(With inputs from agencies.)