Gujarat leads in non-standard, spurious drug cases

AHMEDABAD, MAY 2016: The state which is known for leading Pharma companies is facing worst situation across the country with regard to the cases of using non-standard quality and spurious drugs.

According to the data of health intelligence, the state has been leading high since 2012-13 in registering the cases of non-usable drugs. In 2012-13, the state had registered 551 cases of non-standard quality drugs and four cases of spurious drugs. This came after 6907 drug samples were tested by the State Drug Controller in the same year.

The figure rose to 567 non-standard quality drugs and 32 cases of spurious drugs out of 9713 samples collected by the State Drug Controller in the year 2013-14. In 2014-15, the State again registered 499 cases of non-standard quality drugs and five cases of spurious drugs. These came out after 11300 samples were tested by the State Authorities. The State Drug Controller has initiated prosecution in connection with the five cases of spurious drugs.

According to the data of the Union health Ministry, the State Authorities had from April 1 to September 30 tested 3342 drug samples and 183 out of them were declared not of standard quality. One case of spurious drug was registered in the same period. Times of India