A recent scandal in Rajasthan's medicine scheme has exposed alarming drug failures, with eight medicines failing quality tests. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has released a list of 48 drugs that failed quality tests, including popular medicines such as Paracetamol, Vitamin D3, and Pan-D.
The CDSCO report revealed that some of the batches of these medicines failed the dissolution test as per Indian Pharmacopoeia, while others failed the Assay and water test as per IP. Additionally, five drugs were declared adulterated.
The list of failed medicines includes several well-known brands, such as Shelcal, a popular calcium and vitamin D3 supplement, and Pan-D, an anti-acid medication. Other medicines that failed quality tests include Paracetamol, Metformin, and Telmisartan.
Unseen Flaws in the Free Medicine Scheme:
Delayed Testing: Testing reports take around a month to finalize, allowing substandard drugs to be distributed and consumed before being detected.
Large Batch Sizes: A single batch of medicine can contain up to 1 lakh tablets, amplifying the impact of poor-quality drugs.
Inadequate Sampling: Expensive medicines, such as cancer treatments and injections (priced ₹1-3 lakh), are rarely sampled due to high testing costs.
Lack of Accountability: Despite regular failures in drug quality, regulatory authorities have shown leniency, with only a fraction of cases resulting in follow-up action.
All medicines supplied by RMSCL undergo testing, and only approved drugs are sent to hospitals. If a drug fails, it is removed from use, and the stock is rejected. Financial and legal actions are initiated as per tender conditions.Neha Giri, MD, Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL)
The state government has been taking steps to address the issue, including increasing the number of drug inspectors and improving laboratory facilities. The Rajasthan government has been working to regulate the state's medicine scheme. In the last five years, 738 medicine samples have failed quality tests in Rajasthan.
In a related development, Himachal Pradesh Health Minister Colonel Dhaniram Shandil informed the State Legislative Assembly that 374 medicine samples had failed quality tests in the state in the last one year.
The organization has been releasing regular alerts on medicines that have failed quality tests, and pharmacists and healthcare professionals have been advised to exercise caution when prescribing or dispensing these medicines.
Reference:
https://cdsco.gov.in
https://drugs.gov.in
(Input From Various Sources)
(Rehash/Neha Kamble/MSM)