Responding to the growing concerns over counterfeit and substandard medicines, the West Bengal Health Department has banned 137 types of medicines and issued a notification to wholesalers and sellers. This follows the earlier formation of an investigation committee to prevent fake drugs from entering the state.
According to the notification, the banned medicines include eye drops, diabetic injections, coma therapy drugs, and medications for stomach ulcers. A detailed list of the banned medicines has also been made public.
The health department has outlined stringent compliance measures for drug sellers. They are now required to verify whether the manufacturing companies they procure medicines from hold valid and active licences. For suppliers based outside the state, sellers must also verify their bank account details and GST numbers to ensure authenticity.
In a significant move, the notification flagged quality concerns regarding 300 other medicines. Sellers must now scan the QR codes on these medicines to verify their authenticity before purchase. Retailers have also been instructed to scan QR codes before sourcing such medicines from wholesalers.
The urgency of these measures stems from a series of alarming findings by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). In December, the CDSCO classified 93 medicines as ‘Not of Standard Quality’. This was followed by 51 more in January and 134 additional drugs in March — some belonging to well-known pharmaceutical brands, including various injections.
Over a hundred of these medicines failed the Central Drug Control Board’s quality tests. Public concern surged as the news broke, prompting swift action from state authorities.
“In total, the West Bengal Drugs Control Department has issued six new guidelines. These include mandatory verification of the drug supply chain to ensure medicines originate from the original manufacturer and validation of wholesalers’ licences via the online portal. Sellers must also confirm that bank accounts used for transactions with out-of-state suppliers belong to licensed entities,” said a health department official.
Also read: 196 medicines fail drug test
The issue intensified further in April when CDSCO reported that 196 medicines had failed quality tests across India, with two confirmed as outright counterfeits. One was an anaemia injection with a fake batch number G303123 and the other was a Vitamin D3 tablet with a forged batch number 4D077301 — both declared fake by their respective manufacturers after failing quality tests.
These 196 failed medicines included commonly used drugs — from eye pain relievers and gas tablets to painkillers used during childbirth, antacids and medicines for digestive issues, spasms, and anaemia.
Even major pharmaceutical companies were not spared. A Gujarat-based firm, in addition to West Bengal Pharmaceuticals, failed to meet quality standards for Compound Sodium Lactate Injection, a drug commonly used to combat bacterial infections and pain.
“The state’s stringent new rules are aimed at tightening the drug distribution chain and ensuring that only safe, verified medicines reach the public. Authorities believe these steps will play a critical role in combating the rising threat of counterfeit and substandard drugs in West Bengal,” said the official.
Excerpt (40-50 words):
West Bengal has banned 137 medicines and introduced strict guidelines to combat counterfeit and substandard drugs. The health department now mandates verification of manufacturing licences, QR code authentication, and validation of suppliers’ credentials to ensure safe medicines reach the public, officials said.
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