16 medications made in Himachal judged to be below par

The Central Pharmaceuticals Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the country’s drug regulator, deemed 66 medication samples to be of substandard quality in its monthly warning today. These samples included sixteen pharmaceuticals, including numerous batches of the same drug, produced in 19 drug enterprises in Himachal Pradesh.

The list also includes Alerno tablets, which are produced by Digital Vision, a Kala Amb-based company. In 2020, Alerno cough syrup killed many newborns in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. The pill has received a poor label. Allergies are treated with it.

Of the 931 drug samples that were examined from different states, 864 were deemed to be in compliance with quality standards, 66 did not meet the quality requirements, and one was a misbranded product.

These medications were deemed subpar due to issues with dissolution, average weight, description, assay, and pill disintegration. According to CDSCO criteria, tablets that do not meet the required assay and weight are deemed to be significantly substandard, while those that do not pass disintegration tests are deemed to be completely substandard.

The alert today lists several medications, including two batches of 200 mg Rifaximin tablets, Diclofenac, Aceclofenac, Telverge H, Opi Soproate tablets, Axiflo-oz tablets, Saluzinc-20 tablets, Enalapril Maelate tablets, Domipen tablets, Rabeprazole Sodium Gastro-Resistant, Troypod 200 tablets, Alerno tablets, and Flutol tablets.

In addition, it was discovered that two batches of calcium carbonate tablets had incorrect branding and were disintegrating. The same company, with its headquarters in Barotiwala produced them.

The list also includes an astriparin injection. It is used to treat venous and arterial blood clots. The authorities’ sample included particulate particles, which is seen as a significant defect. It is produced by a company headquartered in Baddi.

The CDSCO kept a close eye on the quality of cough syrups in particular. It has been discovered that two cough syrups produced by a Taksal company close to Parwanoo—Abrodoll-S and L Melt—are not up to par. Both did not have the necessary assay content, which establishes the syrup’s effectiveness.