The Andhra Pradesh Drug Control Administration has decided to continue its policy of not issuing manufacturing licenses for fixed dose combinations of paracetamol and nimesulide as it has not received any fresh instructions from the DCGI, in this regard.

The DCGI had taken a stand that the combination was irrational and should be restricted, and directed the AP state drug authorities to restrict the issue of manufacturing licenses and marketing of this combination drugs, M Venkata Reddy, director, AP DCA told Pharmabiz.

Reddy said that AP DCA and Kerala DCA followed DCGI's instructions to restrict the manufacturing and marketing of this combination, when other states did not follow. Excess use of nimesulide leads to liver damage and is particularly harmful to children.

Meanwhile, new District Drug Advisory Committees are being set up in the districts of Warangal and Vijayanagaram. The role of these committees (with representation from concerned bodies) is to check local problems and make state DCA more effective and to bring in transparency in operations.

The DCA has also initiated a drive against fake drugs in the state and is organizing raids on several wholesale markets in Hyderabad and other places and has instructed drug inspectors to weed out all such drugs from the market. As a result, traders are slowly withdrawing themselves in dealing with imitation drugs. The DCA is determined to conduct fresh raids in the first week of February, Reddy revealed.