In a report released last month, the Central Drugs Standards Organization (CDSCO) classified more than 50 commonly used drugs such as paracetamol, Pan-D supplement and calcium as ‘non-qualifying’ (NSQ) drugs. The warning comes after the government’s drug regulator tested random samples, a routine procedure aimed at ensuring the quality of drugs.

Medicines that failed the quality test included paracetamol IP 500mg, Pan-D (an antacid), vitamin B complex, vitamin C soft gel capsules, Shellac (vitamin C and D3), anti-diabetic drug glimepiride and blood pressure medication.

These low cost medicines are manufactured by several leading pharmaceutical companies including Alchem Laboratories, Hindustan Antibiotics Limited (HAL), Hetero Medicines, Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited, Pure & Medical Healthcare and Meg Life Sciences. NSQ listing for these drugs requires additional precautions and controlled testing to ensure patient safety.

Metronidazole, widely used to treat gastrointestinal infections, is one of the unproven drugs manufactured by public sector unit Hindustan Antibiotics Limited (HAL). Shelcal, a popular calcium supplement manufactured by Pure & Cure Healthcare and distributed by Torrent Pharmaceuticals, failed to meet the required standards.

Notably, a drug testing laboratory in Kolkata has declared the antibiotics Alchem Health Sciences Clavam 625 and Pan D as “fake”. Cepodem XP 50 dry suspension manufactured by Hyderabad-based Hetero for use in children with severe bacterial infections has also been tested at the same laboratory level. Paracetamol tablets manufactured by Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd were also included in the list due to quality issues.

Sources https://www.india.com/news/india/pan-d-paracetamol-vitamin-tablets-shelcal-among-53-top-selling-drugs-fail-quality-test-by-indian-regulator-7276197/amp/

https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/health/story/paracetamol-antacid-pan-d-high-shelcal-high-blood-pressure-paracetamol-drugs-fail-quality-test-2606302-2024-09-25