5 of 6 spurious JKMSCL drugs manufactured by single company

Srinagar, Jan 2017:

Five of the six substandard drugs supplied by J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) to the state hospitals during past more than three months had come from a single company. Despite the repeated alarms sounded by the Drug and Food Control Organization (DFCO), which found the drugs substandard, no action was taken against the accused manufacturer with authorities citing "procedural formalities."

As per official records, five sub-standard drugs, part of JKMSCL hospital supply, out of the total six reported substandard by the DFCO, were supplied by a Himachal Pradesh-based pharma company.

While the first sub-standard drug from the company was reported in October 2016, the JKMSCL did not initiate any action against the manufacturer for months that followed. Controller DFCO, Lotika Khajuria, said action against the company was to be taken by the JKMSCL. She however said that DFCO had "already initiated action" on its end against the manufacturer and written to the licensing authority in the state of manufacture.

"We have communicated the matter to Himachal Pradesh authorities. In fact a reminder has also been sent," she said.

The five drugs found substandard by the DFCO included two samples of two batches of Glimepride and Metformin, Ceftriaxone Injection 1gm, Ceftriaxone Injection 500mg and Amoxycillin Capsules 500 mg, official documents revealed.

One of the medicines - Glimepride and Metformin Hydrochloride (SR) tablets - found substandard in October 2016, was again tested and found "substandard" by the DFCO in December 2016.

Managing Director JKMSCL, Dr Yashpal Sharma, said that they couldn't have blacklisted the company on the basis of "preliminary evidence."

"But we have suspended purchases from the accused company for now. Since Jan 23, 2017, we have not placed any purchase orders with them," said Dr Sharma.

He said that rules demanded that the accused company be "provided a chance to clarify." "They have submitted their test reports to us and those reports certify that drugs under question are of standard quality," he said while adding that the manufacturer had been asked to "explain".

He said that it was the prerogative of the Drug Controller to intimate the manufacturer and he had no information whether that had been done. Greater Kashmir