In a decisive move to protect public health, the Puducherry State Drug Control Department has issued a stringent directive requiring all medical establishments to conduct and submit laboratory quality test reports for every batch of medicine in their possession. This sweeping order comes in the wake of a major crackdown by the Puducherry CBCID, which uncovered and dismantled fake drug manufacturing units responsible for circulating counterfeit medicines worth crores of rupees across India.
The Trigger: A Nationwide Fake Drug Racket
The department's action was prompted by a significant investigation that exposed a sprawling network of spurious drug manufacturers. The Puducherry CBCID arrested more than a dozen individuals, including a former Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, for their alleged involvement. Given the inter-state and national-level implications of the case, the Puducherry government has already recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to unravel the full extent of the racket.
The New Mandate: 100% Batch-Wise Testing
In an official order, Drug Controlling Authority E Anandakirouchenane laid down the new rules. All wholesale and retail medical shops, clinic-attached pharmacies, and both public and private hospitals must now submit samples from each batch of drugs currently in stock, as well as for all future supplies, to an approved and accredited laboratory. The list of such labs is available on the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) website.
The order mandates "100% batch-wise sampling" and explicitly states that no batch can be released for sale or distribution without meeting the quality control requirements. If any sample is reported as "not of standard quality," the entire batch must be immediately withdrawn from the market. The concerned entity must promptly report the failure to the Drug Control Department, providing full details of the stock position and distribution channels.
Strict Compliance and Traceability
To ensure accountability and swift action when needed, the department has also instructed all firms to maintain complete traceability records. This includes detailed documentation of batch-wise procurement and distribution. These records are crucial for facilitating prompt and effective recall procedures in case of quality failures. The authorities have warned that failure to comply will result in severe penalties, including the suspension or cancellation of licenses and legal prosecution.
Industry Response and Public Assurance
The Puducherry State Chemists and Druggists Association has accepted the instructions and is actively cooperating. Association President M Ravichandran and Secretary P Ramesh have sent emails to all pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, urging them to submit the necessary lab-quality certificates. In a joint press release, they sought to reassure the public, requesting people to "continue purchasing and consuming their medicines as usual, without any fear, and to safeguard their health." This step is seen as a critical measure to restore and maintain public trust in the medical supply chain following the alarming discovery of the fake drug network.
