Last Updated on October 2, 2024 by The Health Master
NSQ drugs in circulation
In a recent inspection drive conducted by the Karnataka drug control department, drug samples collected at random from various medical stores raised concerns about their quality.
The results revealed that 15 of these drugs were not-of-standard quality (NSQ) and were in circulation, prompting the department to issue a cautionary notice to the public.
To ensure consumer safety, the department has urged the public to verify the authenticity and quality of similar brands before making a purchase.
Massive Surprise Inspection Drive and Drug Analysis:
During June, the drug control department’s inspectors carried out a massive surprise inspection drive, where they collected samples of drugs from medical stores across the state.
These samples were then sent to drug testing laboratories for thorough analysis by the drug enforcement team.
The aim was to identify any substandard or potentially harmful drugs being circulated in the market.
Robust Infrastructure and Quality Standards:
To support their efforts in maintaining high-quality standards, the Karnataka drug control department has already established three drug testing laboratories.
The Bengaluru drug testing lab is National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) certified, while the other two facilities located in Hubballi and Ballari are working diligently to achieve the same accreditation.
This robust infrastructure ensures that validation and the generation of test reports are carried out with precision and accuracy.
Continuous Vigilance by Enforcement Team:
The drugs controller of Karnataka, Bhagoji T Khanapure, emphasized that their enforcement team is equipped with the necessary technical capabilities to maintain continuous vigilance over the quality of drugs being circulated in the market.
This proactive approach allows them to identify and address potential issues promptly, ensuring the safety of consumers.
Communication to Pharma Companies, Medical Stores, and Hospitals:
Following the discovery of not-of-standard quality drugs, the drug control department has taken swift action to communicate with relevant stakeholders (Pharma Companies, Medical stores, and Hospitals).
The drugs including:
- Paracure-650 mg
- Omeperazole and domperidone capsules
- Pantozit or pantoprazole tablets
- Telmisartan and hydrochloride tablets
- Medi-Aps tablets
- Cetirizine
- Mitalon
- Foly-SG softgel capsules
- Medicare soap
- Aluminium magnesium and simethone oral suspension
- Toppen DSR
- Pehr-D
- Panpace -40 pantoprazole tablets
The companies responsible for manufacturing the identified drugs, including Knox Life Sciences Baddi, Astam Healthcare, Shiv Industries, Daffohils Laboratories, Multicure Pharma, Amster Labs Baddi, Gladios, Sunlife Sciences and Proceed Formulation, have been notified about the findings.
The department has also alerted medical stores and hospitals across the state to ensure that these substandard drugs are not stocked or prescribed to patients.
Caution to the Public:
The drug control department has issued a public warning, urging them not to purchase any of the identified not-of-standard quality drugs over-the-counter (OTC).
This cautionary measure aims to protect consumers from potential harm that might arise from the use of substandard drugs.
Pharma Companies’ Efforts to Ensure Quality:
Pharmaceutical companies have acknowledged that while they implement rigorous quality control testing throughout the production process, the issue of non-standard quality remains a critical concern.
To address this challenge, various measures are in place to identify and prevent the distribution of such drugs.
Notably, the recent government mandate requires labeling drugs packs with QR codes to enable easy tracing within the supply chain.
This step enhances transparency and accountability in the pharmaceutical industry, ensuring that consumers receive safe and high-quality drugs.
Conclusion:
The Karnataka drug control department’s efforts in identifying not-of-standard quality drugs through their surprise inspection drive underscore their commitment to safeguarding public health.
By actively engaging with pharmaceutical companies, medical stores, and the public, they aim to eliminate substandard drugs from circulation and promote the use of safe and effective drugs.
Consumers are encouraged to stay vigilant and verify the quality of drugs before making any purchases, while pharmaceutical companies continue to uphold stringent quality control measures to uphold the highest standards in drugs production and distribution.
Disclaimer: This article contains information derived from Pharmabiz. Our team utilized an AI language model, to rewrite and present the news / article in a unique format.
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