The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Stringent steps to curb sale of spurious drugs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Stringent steps to curb sale of spurious drugs

Vidyashree Amaresh

BANGALORE: Following the recent confiscation of 63 batches of spurious drugs, the State Government has decided to take stringent measures to curb the sale of substandard drugs.

"If the consumption of spurious drugs results in any grievous outcome such as permanent deformity of death, the punishment given is life imprisonment," said S. Ramakrishna Gandhi, Drugs Controller, Karnataka.

The 64th drug added to list of spurious ones is Enteroquinoa, purportedly manufactured by East India Pharmaceuticals. When asked how the Government is tackling the problem, he said the seized samples are tested and action is initiated against the concerned pharmaceutical companies. Around 3,000 samples are tested every year at the department's laboratory.

Physical inspection is carried out for anomalies in labelling and discrepancy in manufacture and expiry dates, he added

According to the Hathi Committee report, there should be one drug inspector for every 100 chemists shops and one for every 25 manufacturing units to control and eradicate the sale of spurious medicines.

Indicating a shortage of staff in the department, the Drugs Controller said that according to the Hathi Committee's recommendations, the department should have at least 250 inspectors, but the present strength is only 60.

"We have got Rs. 4.21 crores as aid from a World Bank-assisted scheme for constructing a new laboratory and increasing equipment and staff. The Drugs Controller of India will oversee the entire process. The laboratory is expected to be completed within a year," Mr. Gandhi said. Once the new laboratory is ready, results will be provided in 30 days, he said.

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