With the government getting tougher on the implementation of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (objectionable advertisement) Act, the drug control authorities have cancelled the licence of an ayurvedic product and put a few others under the scanner for alleged violation of the Act.
The Drug Controller General (India) {DCG(I)} received a complaint from Indian Medical Association (IMA) regarding alleged telecast of a programme on a private channel regarding a product named "Body Revive" claiming to cure various diseases viz diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, cancer, thyroid and heart problem. On the direction of the DCG(I), the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), West Zone, Mumbai took up the matter with Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra.
The FDA Maharashtra has informed that action has been initiated against the concerned firm/individuals for violation of the provisions of the Act and Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act, 1961. Further, on a request from Commissioner, FDA, Maharashtra, the Licensing Authority and Director of Ayurveda, Ajmer, Rajasthan has cancelled the license granted to the concerned firm for manufacturing of the said product, according to the sources.
The Drugs Control Department of Delhi has also reported a few instances of advertisements by pharmaceutical companies for marketing their products. However, no advertisement of any allopathic drugs supposed to be promoting self medication has been observed. The Indian Medical Association (Delhi Branch) had written to Drugs Control Department for taking action under the Act and the department has issued a memo to various leading dailies of English, Hindi, Urdu & Punjabi circulated in NCT, Delhi for enforcement of the provisions of the Act, sources said.
Recently an advertisement by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) on cervical cancer vaccine has created controversy leading to the action by DCGI and the Act had once again come into limelight. The DCGI had issued a show-cause notice to the company after the advertisement became controversial. Likewise, Kerala-based Kunnath Pharmaceuticals was also booked for violating the DMRA Act with regard to their product, Musli Power Xtra.