The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has identified 185 drug samples as "Not of Standard Quality" (NSQ) in its latest monthly quality review for June. Of these, four samples were flagged as "spurious," including well-known drugs like Cefixime and Rosuvastatin. The monthly review highlights continuing concerns over the quality of medicines circulating in the market, though the Health Ministry assures that the findings do not raise immediate alarm for other drugs.

Key highlights

NSQ and spurious drugs identified

• 185 NSQ samples flagged, including Paracetamol, Pantoprazole, and Vitamin D3 tablets.

• Four spurious drug samples were also identified, including Cefixime (Bihar), Heparin Sodium (Delhi), and Rosuvastatin (Telangana).

• NSQ drugs were flagged by both Central and State Drugs Testing Laboratories, with 55 samples flagged by central labs and 130 by state labs.

Drug samples found to be non-compliant

• Drugs like Dextrose Injection (Tam-Bran Pharmaceuticals), Azithromycin Tablet (Apple Formulations), and Paracetamol Intravenous Infusion (D.J. Laboratories) were among the flagged NSQ samples.

• Common drugs such as Telmisartan Tablets and Pantoprazole were also included in the list of substandard drugs.

Spurious drugs pose additional risk

• Spurious drugs, defined under Section 17-B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, are medicines that do not meet authenticity standards.

• Spurious samples included Cefixime tablets from Bihar, Heparin Sodium and Benzyl Nicotinate ointment from Delhi, and Rosuvastatin and Fenofibrate Tablets from Telangana.

Regulatory and public assurance

• The Health Ministry stated that identifying drugs as NSQ does not raise concerns for other products in the market.

• CDSCO continues its monthly reviews, notifying authorities to remove substandard or spurious drugs to maintain quality standards in the pharmaceutical market.

The identification of 185 NSQ drugs and the flagging of 4 spurious samples highlights the importance of robust monitoring in India’s drug industry. While immediate concerns about the broader market are downplayed, continued vigilance is necessary to prevent counterfeit and substandard drugs from reaching consumers. Regulatory bodies are working to ensure that these drugs are swiftly removed from circulation.