The move is part of a stringent drug ban policy being prepared
by the ministry. The report further said that over a dozen drugs,
including anti-allergic Buclizine and anti-asthma doxofylline, have been
recently removed from the markets of some developed on grounds of
safety. Buclizine and doxofylline are not allowed for sale in countries
such as US, Canada, Britain, Australia. Formulations of both buclizine
and doxofylline are widely prescribed by physicians in India and
marketed by a number of top Indian companies.
The government is also planning to set up an expert committee to weed out such harmful drugs and irrational fixed dose combinations including certain muscle relaxants, painkillers, anti-depressants and antispasmodics from the market. It is estimated that almost 45 per cent of all the drugs marketed in the country today are FDCs.
The move is in the background of the Ranjit Roy Chaudhury committee’s recommendation that India should have a list of drugs not approved in the country of origin and those which have been banned or withdrawn in several countries.
The safety of drugs sold in the Indian market has been an issue of great concern for the health ministry for some time now. Ensuring safety of drugs in the market is the prime responsibility of a regulatory authority in any country and India has been striving to achieve this goal for some years now with not much success.
The matter has come to the notice of the health secretary of the Union Territory and action is being taken against the offenders. It is possible that in other states and Union Territories where drug administration is weak, more such violations must be taking place. Therefore, formation of a Central Drug Authority can only possibly guarantee a uniform policy in the matter of issuing drug licenses and availability of safe drugs in the country.
The government is also planning to set up an expert committee to weed out such harmful drugs and irrational fixed dose combinations including certain muscle relaxants, painkillers, anti-depressants and antispasmodics from the market. It is estimated that almost 45 per cent of all the drugs marketed in the country today are FDCs.
The move is in the background of the Ranjit Roy Chaudhury committee’s recommendation that India should have a list of drugs not approved in the country of origin and those which have been banned or withdrawn in several countries.
The safety of drugs sold in the Indian market has been an issue of great concern for the health ministry for some time now. Ensuring safety of drugs in the market is the prime responsibility of a regulatory authority in any country and India has been striving to achieve this goal for some years now with not much success.
The matter has come to the notice of the health secretary of the Union Territory and action is being taken against the offenders. It is possible that in other states and Union Territories where drug administration is weak, more such violations must be taking place. Therefore, formation of a Central Drug Authority can only possibly guarantee a uniform policy in the matter of issuing drug licenses and availability of safe drugs in the country.
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