Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO): A recent quality control check by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has raised concerns over the safety and effectiveness of 53 medicines. Among the medicines that failed to pass the test were Paracetamol, a household famous common pain reliever, and Pan D, a well-known antacid. The Indian drug relator conducts tests on pharmaceutical products regularly to ensure that they keep up with quality as well as safety standards. Several drugs have been identified as ”not of standard quality” (NSQ) and have not been able to meet the prescribed quality norms as per the latest report.
Some of them are Paracetamol IP 500 mg, Vitamin B complex, Temisartan, Shelcal Vitamin C and D3, Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C softgels, Rifmin 550, Nimesulide Paracetamol and Chlozoxazone tablets, Cliprofloxacin Tablets I.P 500 mg, Amoxycillin & Potassium Clavulanate Tablets (Mexclav 625), Metformin Hydrochloride sustained release Tablets IP (Glycimet-SR-500) and more. A drug testing lab in Kolkata has alerted Alkem Health Science’s antibiotics, Pan D and Clavam 625 as ”spurious”. Additionally, as per the same lab report, Cepodem XP 50 Dry Suspension which is given for the treatment of bacterial infections in children was declared as substandard and has been manufactured by Hetero in Hyderabad.
Public health at risk
The reports of popular drugs not passing quality checks can result in developing potential risks for patients. The aftereffects of these substandard medicines can lead to complications and harmful side effects. Recently, the drug regulator has banned more than 156 fixed-dose drug combinations which have a risk of affecting humans.
CDSCO has posted two different lists this month–one with products of big pharma companies and their replies and the other a regular list. According to a report by News18, the companies have denied any responsibility for the manufacture of these drugs, maintaining that they are “spurious”. In July this year, CDSCO had also flagged popular medicines.