Daily Times

LAHORE: As many as 11 samples of medicines from 10 national and multinational pharmaceutical companies have been failed by the Drug Testing Laboratory, declaring them as substandard.

The Primary and Secondary Healthcare (P&SHC) Department has directed all drug inspectors to take immediate action against these companies and seize their available stocks at health facilities/sale points as per law.

The P&SHC 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, 11 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.

Noor Maher, a pharmacist, said that the Punjab government’s action on substandard medicine was creating further shortage for the poor patients not only in public hospitals but also in open market. She cited negligence of drug authorities as a reason behind poor monitoring system of drugs in the county.

Copy of a notification issued by the Punjab chief drug controller to all drug controllers/deputy drug controllers/drug inspectors and hospital pharmacists in Punjab subjected “Action to be taken against drugs declared not of standard quality”, informed that Tab cardi-5 active ingredient Atenolol manufactured by Benson Pharma, Islamabad, Tab AR Naproxen 550 active ingredient Naproxen Sod and Tab Ciproval 500mg active ingredient Ciprofloxacin manufactured by Arson Pharma, Lahore, were declared unfit.

Likewise, medicine named Sol Kleen Enema active ingredient with Sodium Phosphate manufactured by Nabi Qasim, Karachi, and Inhaler Salbo HFA active ingredient Salbutamol by multinational Getz Karachi were also declared substandard.

Samples of Syp Alercure 60ml with active ingredient Levocetirizine by Life Pharma Multan and Susp Maxil 125mg/5ml, 90ml with active ingredient Amoxycillin manufactured by Macter, Karachi, also failed to pass the test. Susp Cefusave 125mg/5ml with active ingredient cefuroxime by Medisave, Lahore, Inj Aclova 250 mg active ingredient Acyclovir by Allied distributor, Karachi, Tab Augmiclave DS active ingredient Amoxycillin and Clavunate by Lisko Karachi and Soda Glycerine active ingredient Sodium Bicarbonate by Lahore Pharma were declared not having standard quality.

All drug inspectors were directed to prepare a report regarding available stocks of these medicines at health facilities/sale points along with action taken against the culprits. They were further asked to communicate the same through their respective focal persons of task force by August 12, 2016 for onward presentation in upcoming PQCB meeting for final decision.