The Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drug Control (CFSDC) in Jaipur has sounded an alarm after laboratory tests confirmed that samples of five widely used medicines failed to meet quality standards. The regulatory body has now issued urgent directives for the withdrawal of these drugs from the market across Rajasthan to protect public health.
List of Failed Drugs and Their Manufacturers
On Wednesday, the CFSDC released the names of the drugs and their manufacturers whose samples were found to be of substandard quality. The officials have instructed all district drug controllers in the state to immediately seize the available stocks.
Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride Tablets (Wincet-L): This antihistamine, used for treating allergy symptoms, was manufactured by M/s YL Pharma located in Baddi, Solan district, Himachal Pradesh. The tested sample did not conform to the required standards.
Voglibose tablets 0.3 mg (DULCOVOG-0.3): This antidiabetic medication, crucial for managing type 2 diabetes, is produced by M/s Lifecare Neuro Products Ltd in Dharampur, Himachal Pradesh. Its sample also failed the quality test.
Ofloxacin Tablets IP 200 mg (OFWIN-200): A fluoroquinolone antibiotic from M/s YL Pharma (Baddi, Solan) meant to treat bacterial infections was declared substandard.
Telmisartan and Amlodipine Tablets IP (Telpin-A): This combination drug for treating hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults, manufactured by M/s Maskon Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd in Bhagwanpur, Roorkee, was found to be below par.
Cefixime Oral Suspension: This antibiotic suspension, often prescribed for bacterial infections in children and adults who have difficulty swallowing pills, is made by M/s Agron Remedies Pvt. Ltd in Sarverkhera, Uttarakhand. Its sample failed the test.
Immediate Regulatory Action Ordered
Following the failed tests, the CFSDC has taken swift action. A senior official confirmed that directions have been issued to ensure these drugs are no longer consumed. The district drug controllers have been tasked with a two-pronged approach.
First, they must provide appropriate safeguards to consumers by orchestrating the withdrawal of all available stock of these five drugs from the market. Second, they are mandated to take necessary legal action against the concerned manufacturers and sellers as per the stringent provisions of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.
What This Means for Consumers
The discovery of substandard drugs poses a significant public health risk. Such medicines may not deliver the intended therapeutic effect, potentially leading to treatment failure, prolonged illness, or complications, especially in cases of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension, or serious infections.
The statewide recall order aims to immediately curb this risk. Consumers in Rajasthan are advised to check their medicines and consult their doctors or pharmacists if they are using any of the identified brands. They should not discontinue medication on their own but seek alternative, quality-assured substitutes as prescribed by a medical professional.
This incident underscores the critical importance of robust drug quality surveillance. The CFSDC's proactive testing and subsequent recall demonstrate regulatory vigilance, but it also highlights the ongoing challenge of ensuring that every medicine on the shelf is safe and effective.
