New Delhi: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has raised serious concerns over the quality of medicines in the country after 112 drug samples failed quality tests, including 11 manufactured in Punjab.
According to the report, the highest number of failed samples came from Himachal Pradesh and other states (49), followed by Gujarat (16), Uttarakhand (12), Punjab (11) and Madhya Pradesh (6). Among the failed drugs were three cough syrups, one of which was found to be fake.
The medicines that failed the tests are used to treat critical conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, infections, pain, inflammation, anemia and epilepsy.
Just days earlier, the Punjab government had banned eight medicines, including the popular Coldriff cough syrup. Following the CDSCO report, authorities have accelerated the process of withdrawing affected batches from the market.
All medical stores, hospitals and doctors have been directed to stop selling these medicines and to provide safe alternatives to patients immediately.
