Synopsis
The Karnataka government has reached out to the Union Health Minister for support in addressing the sale of contaminated drugs and has called for measures to remove these products from the market throughout India.Key Takeaways
- Karnataka government seeks help from Union Health Ministry.
- Contaminated injectable drugs pose serious health risks.
- Action requested to withdraw these drugs from the market.
- Need for inter-state communication about drug testing failures.
- Legal requirements for sharing sales records suggested.
Bengaluru, Feb 21 (NationPress) The Karnataka government has requested help from the Union Health Minister to combat the issue of selling drugs that have failed testing, urging for action to withdraw contaminated drugs from the market nationwide.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao sent a letter on Friday to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda regarding this matter.
“I am writing to highlight the frequent occurrences of the sale of contaminated injectable drugs produced in other states within Karnataka.
“From January 1 to February 16, nine injectable drugs from other states did not pass sterility testing in our state laboratories. The specifics, including batch numbers, are detailed in the annex attached to this letter,” Minister Rao noted.
This list excludes numerous injectables produced by Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals in West Bengal, whose tainted injectables led to the deaths of five young mothers in Ballari district of Karnataka, Rao mentioned.
“While I am directing my department to take necessary actions to prevent these drugs from being sold in Karnataka, there is a significant possibility that other contaminated products from these manufacturers are available in other states across India. Injectables are critical in acute care and pose a high risk to patients.
“Considering the ‘life or death’ implications for patients receiving these contaminated drugs, I urge you to leverage your authority to ensure that all products marketed by these companies are removed from circulation throughout India and that these manufacturers are barred from selling any more drugs until evaluated by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP),” Rao implored.
Minister Rao also asked, “Additionally, I request the establishment of a framework for all state and central laboratories to share alerts concerning drugs that have failed quality tests, particularly those failures which could lead to serious adverse effects for patients.”
He suggested, “Beyond sharing alerts, there should be a legal obligation to exchange sales records from the manufacturer to facilitate the seizure of contaminated drugs from the supply chain before they reach patients.
“Finally, we require a mechanism to notify doctors, pharmacists, and patients about drugs failing tests in our respective laboratories. My department is ready to assist in this matter.”
Rao concluded his letter, expressing hope for a favorable response.
