Karnataka drugs control department has declared over 30 drugs as being ‘not-of-standard quality'. These were seized by  drug inspectors during a surprise inspection drive. The inspector team  picked up samples at random from pharmacy outlets and  test reports from the Drug Test Lab in Bangalore have declared these as not-of- standard quality.

The department has now issued a warning to the hospitals, pharmacy retail outlets and the public to refrain from selling and prescribing these drugs, Dr. BR Jagashetty, Karnataka drugs controller, said.

The inspection was carried out between August and September, 2010. Of the 30 products a few have been manufactured by Bangalore companies. These include Stericon Pharma, and Futura Surgicals.

Some of the drugs found wanting in quality include  Oral Rehydration salts citrate IP Prolyte manufactured by Hale Wood Laboratories Pvt Limited at Vatwa, Ahmedabad in Gujarat,  Pentagon (Pantoprazole) tablets by MMC Healthcare located on the  Solan-Kalka Highway in Himachal Pradesh,  Nimesulide and Paracetamol tablets by Tirupati Medicare at Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh,  Oxalic CT Ofloxacin and Tinidazole tablets by Acacia Biotech at Pantnagar, Monolevixa Levofloxacin tablet of 500 mg by DM Pharma in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, Ornigyl-O Suspension Ofloxacin and Ornidazole suspension by Torque Pharmaceuticals in Jhamajri, Kymox drug syrup, Amoxicillin Trihydrate for oral suspension by Henin Lukinz Pharma division at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh.

The second list of drugs include Sanocip-500 Ciprofloxacin tablets by Maxtar Bio Genics at Baddi, Pasclox CV 625 Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid tablets by acid tablets by Gnosis Pharmaceuticals, Stomox –D Amoxicillin and Dicloxacillin capsules by GMH Laboratories at Baddi. Diclofenac sodium injection by Martin & Brown Life sciences in Baddi. Moxnecs 250 Amoxicillin by Venus Biosciences in Himachal Pradesh, Sestil AD Loperamide HCL and Latic acid bacillus tablets by Vanguard Laboratories in Dehardun, Makciav 625 Amoxycillin Clavunate and Potassium tablets by ASA biotech in Solan. Raninec or Ranitidine tablets by Venus Biosciences, Ciprofloxacin Eye and Ear drops by Stericon Pharma, Petcryl 910 Polyglatin coated  and braided absorbable  surgical suture by Futura Surgicals, Cemaxin 200-Cefixime dispersible tablets from Spanker Biotech at Baddi, Absorbent gauze from Sree Arumugan Surgicals at Tamil Nadu, Nutran –SS by Numesch Healthcare at Indore, Aceclofenac by Vilin  Biomed Uttarakhand, Gentalab – Gentamicin sulphate injection by Laborate Pharmaceuticals in Himachal Pradesh, Cipure -500 which is a Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride tablet by Fincure Pharma in Ahmedabad, Multicaine Gel an which is an anesthetic  gel by Ratchet Laboratories in Himachal Pradesh.

In the early inspections, court notices were issued to the violators of the not-of standard quality drugs. The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in the District Court at Bidar  issued orders to the  proprietor of Ganesh Medicals and has been convicted to go under simple imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs. 4,500. Another company is Panduranga Medicals which was convicted for not having valid license.

At Hubli, the Judicial Magistrate First Class has convicted the proprietor of Nirman Pharma of Gujarat. The JMFC in Shimoga has been convicted for stocking ‘Physician Samples’ which are not for sale.