“Regardless of its size, the pharmaceuticals and drugs industry of Jammu and Kashmir has been consistently marred by substandard and falsified medical products”
K Koushal
The pharmaceutical industry of Jammu and Kashmir in general and Kashmir in particular has been reportedly marred by sub-standard drugs, including affordable medicine ‘approved’ or ‘provided’ or ‘manufactured’ by the government.
According to the official records, at least 28 drugs, including medicine under the government’s ambitious programme Jan Aushadi and J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) have been figured in the list of substandard drugs.
“Regardless of its size, the pharmaceuticals and drugs industry of Jammu and Kashmir has been consistently marred by substandard and falsified medical products,” suggests a doctor, wishing anonymity. He added that numerous cases of the manufacturing or sale of fake or unfit drugs have even been reported within Kashmir in the recent past, but no action has been taken.
He stated that even the official records of the Drug and Food Control Organization makes it evident that these substandard drugs are on sale in the market and keeps on soaring with every month.
“If you check the list of fake or unfit drugs in the month of September, 2022, there were 17 drugs in the list, which have raised to 28 in last five months,” said the doctor, adding that surprisingly the medicine approved, manufactured or provided by the government under different schemes have been in the list for the last eight months and nobody is taking cognizance of the matter.
Much recommended medicine, especially during pregnancy, Folic Acid Tablets provided under affordable Jan Aushudi remained in the list of substandard drugs from the last more than eight months.
“The sample is not of standard quality and also fails in the test are the remarks of the Drug and Food Control Organization,” said the doctor, adding that similarly, Compound Sodium Lactate Inj supplied by JKMSCL does not comply with the test for Sterility.
Other substandard drugs that are on open sale in Jammu and Kashmir included, Olmisave AM-40, Rare-D, Hexomide, Meroin (1gm) Injection, Majocid Gel Suspension, Pica-40, Glitip-2 Forte, PanKav-40, Potassium Chloride For Injection Concentrate U.S.P (for SKIMS supply), Ofloxacin Opthalmic Solution IP 0.3% (JKMSCL Hospital Supply), Pramide, Acto Flox-OR, Lecoxib-P, Monzem LC, Septodine 10%, Para-MF Suspension, Diclopic Aqua, Lcet-M KID, Robero-20, XEFUR 500, Paracetamol Tablets IP (JKMSCL Hospital Supply), Septodine 10% (SKIMS supply), Gaacef-200 DT, Sooth-SP and Omeace-P.
“The reason behind the rise in counterfeiting, tampering and diversion of pharmaceuticals in Jammu and Kashmir in general and Kashmir in particular is due to reasons such as the imbalance between supply and demand for authentic products, poor practices along the supply chain, inadequate quality control at the manufacturing site, weak regulatory measures, non-adoption and right use of anti-counterfeiting technology, enforcement measures and above all awareness,” asserted the doctor.
Talking to the Typewriter Lotika Khajuria, J&K Drugs Controller said that action shall be taken under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, depending upon the parameters of the failure.
“Action has been taken in this regard. I think they have started substitution,” she said.
If any medicine fails in a physical parameter, there is an administrative action after proper investigation.
“The action can extend up to suspension of license or withdrawal of the permission, but in case it fails in content, it warrants prosecution under court of the law,” said Assistant Drug Controller, Mohd Iqbal adding that the present case falls under physical parameters.
