The Andhra Pradesh Drug Control Administration (APDCA) is yet to receive any directive from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) with regard to withdrawal of 'manufacturing licenses' issued by the state drug authorities to over 1000 irrational combination drugs.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, R Ranga Rao, director, APDCA, said 'we have not received any information from DCGI with respect to withdrawing the manufacturing licenses of irrational combinations. I have only learnt it from the reports and articles in newspapers.'

However, Rao declined to comment on the possible action by APDCA with respect to withdrawing the licenses. Referring to the news reports he said 'going through the list of companies at fault, there are no traces of companies from Andhra Pradesh in the list and it would be not be good to talk on this front unless we receive any specific information on withdrawing the manufacturing license of irrational combinations in the state.'

On prevalence of manufacturing of irrational combination drugs in the state, Rao said 'I have not known about any such licence being issued by the administration in the past.'

According to another officer, generally officers who are near retirement period grant such licenses in a bid to get "recognition" and "other benefits". It becomes difficult to find the person responsible for the fault as they are out of their services after the tenure. There are also cases of officers who maintained good profile throughout the career but indulge in some corrupt practices just months before their superannuation, it learnt.

To a query on whether small formulation units will be hit with the order, the officer said 'there is possibility that third party manufactures might also come under scanner but we have to wait for the official information from the DCGI.'

The sources said that some top pharma companies in the state may also have a few irrational combinations in their product list.