The Union Health Ministry will take a final decision on revoking the ban on pain-killer analgin and anti-depressant deanxit even as the experts expressed reservations on the ban enforced without sufficient grounds.
Though the Drugs and Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), which met recently specifically to discuss the ban on anti-diabetes drug pioglitazone, did not deliberate formally on the ban of the other two drugs. It is learnt that many members had expressed strong reservations on the decision by the Health Ministry on analgin and deanxit.
While making sharp observations against the ban of the two drugs, many experts suggested that these drugs should be put under suspension and the firms should be asked to submit scientific evidences for the scrutiny.
Sources pointed out that the Health Ministry decided to ban the three drugs, without the recommendations by the DTAB in this regard, and it was upto the Health Ministry to take a final call on the drugs.
However, indications are that the Health Ministry will not rush into revoking the ban on analgin and deanxit, the two drugs banned in several countries and that the Parliamentary panel had time and again wanted the Government to ban in India.
But, a notification to lift the ban on pioglitazone as recommended by the DTAB is expected any time. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had also consulted leading experts on the ban of pioglitazone before the meeting of the DTAB.
It may be noted that the Health Ministry decided to ban analgin, overlooking the recommendations by the DTAB and the expert panel. The controversial drug, which is banned in several countries including the developed markets, was placed first under the focused pharmacovigilance programme and later referred to the NDAC (Neurology and Psychiatry). After going through reports, the DTAB held on May 16 that there was no sufficient ground for a ban.
The NDAC which has examined the issue of continued marketing of analgin in the country has also recommended that there was no adequate data on Indian population in support of either ban of the drug or allow the continued marketing of the drug in the country. It rather suggested suspension of manufacturing.