The Hindu : National : Government will consider banning nimulid: Anbumani

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Saturday, Feb 18, 2006

National

National

Government will consider banning nimulid: Anbumani

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday assured the Rajya Sabha that the Government would consider banning use of nimulid for children under 12, after an evaluation by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) within three months. (Nimulid, an analgesic used in fever and pain, is banned for children in the United States and parts of Europe for its side effects but is marketed in India.) He was replying to Congress member Santosh Bagrodia during the Question Hour on the use in India of globally banned drugs/medicines such as nimulid, nise, novalgin, ciza syspride, droperole, furozone, lomofen, furacin, agarol, D'cold, Vicks Action 500, sioril, piperazine and enteroquinol etc.

The Minister's assurance followed a furore in the House over his explanation that some drugs banned in the U.S. and Europe were allowed to be sold in India as "some of the drugs metabolised by Indians were not metabolised by white skinned people.'' Ethnic issues were proven facts, he said.

Taking exception to the Minister's observations, CPI-M leader Brinda Karat said this was the first time that anyone had heard of a "racial theory of drugs.''

"This is a serious issue. If nimulid is not good for a child under 12 in the United States and the European Union, how can it be good for children in India?'' she asked.

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