Acting on the directive of Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the Karnataka drug control department has so far withdrawn licences of two irrational combination drugs in the state. Though the DCGI had listed 294 combination drugs to be withdrawn from the market, there are only two drugs in Karnataka in this list.

According to the state drug control department, only two of the eight fixed dose combinations to treat gastro intestinal disorders, central nervous system and analgesics figure in the irrational drug list. The license of these products has been surrendered by the companies.

The pharma companies in the state have welcomed the DCGI decision to withdraw irrational drugs. It is a success for the Karnataka pharma sector and the state drug control department. This was possible because the companies were always prevented from manufacturing irrational drug combinations, Karnataka drug controller Dr Sripathy Rao told Pharmabiz.

Although there were a few stray cases, it has been withdrawn. In fact the state drugs control department went on to issue the circular even before the official communiqué came from the DCGI. The state has always maintained its quality standards and is also known to have the highest number of Schedule M compliant units, he added.

The withdrawal of irrational drug combination is a step in the right direction and the DCGI has hit the nail on the head. The industry has been chaotic so long with scores of irrational combinations being produced paying bribes to the state drugs control departments in the country, stated well known pharma consultant RS Iyer.

Meanwhile, doctors community also admits that there are irrational combination drugs in the market which should be withdrawn. For instance, combination of B1, B6 and B12 or ciprofloxacin + Tinidazole or Streptomycin with anti-diarrhoeal combination are irrational and a big waste of money and time. The adverse clinical consequences of administering such drugs are high and there are no objective benefits because some conditions like fever and diarrhoea are rare and could be treated separately, stated doctors from St. John's Medical College Hospital.