Batches of over 50 drugs, including popular medications such as paracetamol, calcium supplements, and vitamin D3 tablets, have failed quality tests conducted by India’s drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO). The findings, revealed in CDSCO’s August 2024 drug alert, have raised concerns about the continued use of these medications.
The CDSCO’s report classified several drugs as “Not of Standard Quality (NSQ),” based on random monthly tests conducted across various labs by state drug officers, as per *India Today*. A senior CDSCO official reassured the public, stating that the NSQ findings were typically minor and not life-threatening.
By September 20, three separate alerts had been issued for NSQ, adulterated, or spurious drugs. Among the flagged items were high-demand drugs like Paracetamol (IP 500 mg), Shelcal (Vitamin C and D3), Glimepiride (for diabetes), and Telmisartan (for high blood pressure). These drugs were produced by well-known manufacturers like Alkem Laboratories, Hetero Drugs, and Hindustan Antibiotics Limited.
Additionally, CDSCO listed 53 allopathic drugs that failed quality standards, excluding spurious drugs and herbal remedies. The report also highlighted that certain manufacturers, including Sun Pharma and Glenmark, denied producing the flagged products, claiming them to be counterfeit.In a separate move, CDSCO banned over 156 fixed-dose drug combinations in August, citing potential risks to human health.