Concerned over the reports of continued availability of banned drugs in the market, the office of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has embarked on widespread raids on the pharmacy outlets in the national capital and has seized several banned drugs manufactured by prominent pharma companies in the country.

In the first phase of the raid, inspectors of the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) have conducted over 135 raids spread over 90 places in Delhi and Biwadi in Rajasthan.

According to sources, several brands of banned drugs of gatifloxacin and tegaserod, manufactured by prominent pharma companies have been seized by the CDSCO officers in the raid. The companies whose products have been seized include Lupin, Dr Reddy's, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Cipla, Hetero Drugs, Torrent Pharma, Aristo Pharma, Intas, etc.

On March 16 this year, the Union health ministry had banned the two controversial drugs--- antibiotic drug gatifloxacin and chronic constipation drug tegaserod for their adverse effects on human health. The ban was with immediate effect and the drug authorities had asked the drug manufacturers to withdraw these drugs from the market with immediate effect. The DCGI banned these drugs on the recommendations of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), the highest decision-making body under the Union health ministry on technical matters related to health issues.

Earlier, the DCGI had put these controversial drugs under the radar of the DTAB in the wake of serious concerns raised by the medical experts in the country over the adverse effects of these drugs on human health.

Earlier on February 10 this year, the DCGI had banned another set of controversial drugs--- nimesulide (for use of below 12 years of age), cisapride, phenylpropanolamine and human placenta extracts, due to adverse effects of these drugs on human health. But, the manufacturers moved Madras High Court on this notification and got an interim stay of the DCGI order, and the issue is still pending in the court.