The Karnataka drugs control department has seized 18 not-of-standard quality drugs from chemists and druggists outlets in the last two weeks in the state. The drugs were picked up at random by the enforcement wing during a surprise inspection drive.

A single drive alone  provided access to 9 drugs of not-of standard quality. These  drugs were calcium gluconate injection manufactured by Coax Bioremedies from Hissar, omeprazole capsules manufactured by Pro Labs at Roorkee district in Haridwar, Pentab 4 which contains pantoprazole gastro resistant tablets manufactured by Crescent Therapeutics in Solan district in Himachal Pradesh,  Pantosap manufactured by Merril Pharma, Emetrol which contains doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride tablets manufactured by Sysmed Labs in GIDC, Makarapura, Baroda, Keto Gold soap manufactured by Jain Soap and Pharma at Kalol district, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Althrocin liquid which contains erythromycin estolate asoral suspension form manufactured by Alembic Pharmaceuticals in Solan district in Himachal Pradesh, Omey containing omeprazole manufactured by Pro Labs in Haridwar and RIF-D which contains rabeprazole sodium and domperidone manufactured by Eifil Pharma at Baddi in Solan district.

In the second inspection drive another nine products including soaps and drugs  were found to be of not-of-standard quality which covered rolled bandage by Tamil Nadu based Gomathi Shankar Surgicals and Modern Healthcare .  Tetmitas soap containing monosulfiram medicated soap, NT Scanb and New Ketol manufactured by Affy Parenterals in Himachal Pradesh  were found to be substandard. Others include chlorpheniramine maleate injection by Park Benz Labs in Mandideep district, Raisen, Palimu which contains tolperisone hydrochloride and paracetamol by Pristine Life Sciences in Sikkim, pantoprazole tablets by Glyco Labs in Himachal Pradesh and Panjay which contals pantoprazole by Austin Pharmaceuticals in Derabassi.

According to Karnataka drugs controller Raghurama Bhandary, these drugs and medicated products are manufactured by companies located in the excise free zones in North India. These plants lack the required supervision for good manufacturing practices and therefore the end result is not of standard quality drugs.

The drugs control department’s enforcement wing during its visits to pharmacy outlets are selecting the drugs at random. These are then tested at any of the three drug test labs either at Hubli, Bellary and Bengaluru, he added.

Now the drugs control department takes on the onus to communicate to the industry and also to all healthcare providers in the state to ensure that these drugs are not prescribed. Advices to public are also provided to ensure they do not consume these drugs, said Bhandary.