The latest list features several common medicines such as paracetamol, metformin combos (for diabetes), amoxicillin formulations (antibiotic), vitamin supplements, and cough syrups.
New Delhi: During their monthly quality review, the central drug regulator in May identified select batches of 169 drug samples as not of standard quality (NSQ) while one sample is found to be spurious.
Of the total 159 NSQ samples flagged by authorities, 46 were detected by central laboratories, while the remaining 113 were identified by state drug testing labs.
The list features several common medicines such as paracetamol, metformin combos (for diabetes), amoxicillin formulations (antibiotic), vitamin supplements, and cough syrups.
Further, one drug sample picked from Assam was identified as a “spurious” drug. In a statement, the Health Ministry said the flagged drug was manufactured by “unauthorised manufacturers using a brand name owned by another company, and the matter is under investigation.”
Details regarding the drug’s chemical composition and therapeutic indications were unavailable at press time, as the CDSCO is yet to disclose the product’s specfics and other information related to the ongoing investigation.
Under the Drugs and Cosmetic Act of 1940, a drug is deemed as spurious if it is manufactured under a name that belongs to another drug and resembles in a manner likely to deceive consumers.
The action of identifying NSQ and spurious medicines is taken on regular basis in collaboration with state regulators to ensure that these drugs are identified and removed from of market.
During their last reporting cycle (April), authorities flagged 169 selected samples as NSQ along with one other as spurious.
