Survey takes lid off drug impurity in JK hospitals

Srinagar, Feb 2017: 
At a time when state government is trying to brush aside the warnings by the J&K Drug and Food Control Organization (DFCO) regarding supply of sub-standard drugs to state hospitals, a survey by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has found that the menace of spurious drugs is more severe in J&K as compared to national average. Shockingly, the survey "Extent of Problems of Spurious and Not of Standard Quality Drugs" has found that the percentage of drug formulations found "Not of Standard Quality" (NSQ) is much higher in case of samples lifted from government sector compared to retail market in J&K.

The National Drug Survey-2017, released on Friday, has revealed that 8.37 percent drug samples lifted from government sources were NSQ which is more than double the percentage of 3.4 in retail sector.

The survey conducted by the National Institute of Biologicals (NIB) provides an in-depth analysis of the scenario of drugs in all states, including J&K. The report while giving an exhaustive state-wise insight into the quality of drugs in government hospitals as well as in the retail market puts NSQ percentage at 3.14 and spurious drugs percentage at 0.0245.

The survey for the period 2014-2016 reports that 3.4 percent samples lifted from the retail sector in J&K were found to be NSQ, higher than the national average of 3.0 percent.

As per the survey, J&K stands at a dismal 21st position vis-à-vis quality of drugs in the market. Of 441 drug formulation samples lifted from 74 retail outlets in the J&K market, 15 were found to be NSQ. But the percentage of drug formulations found NSQ was much higher in case of samples lifted from government sources.

The revelation comes at a time when six drugs, part of hospital supply by J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL), have been reported as sub-standard by the DFCO-something that the government is learnt to have refused to accept. Reportedly, the government has sent the samples under scanner to a referral lab.

Although the percentage of government source drugs reported NSQ in J&K is lower than the national average of 10.02, the State still fares in the middle of the rank.

Speaking on the survey, Dr Surinder Singh, Director of the National Institute of Biologicals and member of the Core Expert Committee of the survey, said: "The survey is the 'true picture' of the problem of spurious and sub-standard drugs in country with due care taken to include rural sector adequately."

He added: "We have included almost all molecular combinations in the survey. And the strength of the study is that it has been an ethical exercise, with representation from NGOs and Pharmacy Council of India too and all samples tested from accredited laboratories."

The survey is the largest exercise carried out by the government to determine the "extent of Problems of Spurious and NSQ Drugs in the Country". A total of 47,954 samples were drawn and tested under the survey by State and Central drug inspectors. Greater Kashmir