Daily Times

LAHORE: As many as 13 samples of medicines from different national pharmaceutical companies have been failed by the Drug Testing Laboratory, which declared the samples unfit of patients’ usage.

The Primary and Secondary Healthcare (P&SHC) Department has directed all executive districts officers (Health) to seize available stocks and stop usage of these medicines.

The department floated tenders for supply of medicines to public sector hospitals and different pharmaceutical companies deposited samples of required medicines to the department. When these samples were sent to DTL, 13 samples were declared unfit. In the light of DTL report, the Punjab government has refused to give tenders to those companies whose samples have been failed.

Copy of a notification issued by the P&SHC informed that Empoir 250mg tablet, manufactured by Alkemy in Hyderabad, and Klarifine 60ml syrup, manufactured by Polyfine Chem Pharma in Peshawar, were declared unfit. Likewise, medicine named Vitox, manufactured by Glitz Pharma in Islamabad, and Giva tablet by Genix Karachi were also declared substandard.

Sample of Falcim40/240 tablet by Medisave in Lahore and Infadox 100mg capsule, manufactured by Star laboratories in Lahore, also failed to pass the test.

Tablet Lysteda 250mg by Arson, Lahore, capsule Traxacid 500mg by Asain continental, Karachi, Oxipro tablet by Sharooq Pharma, Lahore, and Trucef capsule by Synchro Pharma, Lahore, were also declared not having standard quality.

Similarly, Bevate cream, manufactured by Hoover Pharma, Lahore, and Atromin 50mg tablet by Noa Hemis Pharmaceuticals, Karachi, were declared substandard.

All health EDOs and field officers of the health department were directed to stop dispensation of these medicines with immediate effect till further orders. All officers were also directed to prepare a report regarding available stocks of these medicines at health facilities/sale points and present before panel of experts nominated by the P&SHC department for decision.