Failed Drug Samples: In the last three years
There have been several instances of scams involving pharmaceutical companies in Himachal Pradesh, including:
– Failed Drug Samples: In the last three years, 1,683 drug samples failed quality tests in Himachal Pradesh ¹. Despite this, legal action has only been taken against 10 pharmaceutical companies ¹.
– Substandard and Spurious Drugs: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has declared 13 drug samples from Himachal Pradesh as substandard, and one sample as spurious ².
– Spurious Drug Racket: A spurious drug racket was busted in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and it was found that some of the spurious drugs were allegedly manufactured by Cyper Pharmaceuticals in Himachal Pradesh ².
– Lack of Regulation: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has noted that the Baddi Industrial area of Solan in Himachal Pradesh has become a production hub of spurious vitamins, syrups, and drugs in the name of food supplements by the nutraceutical companies ³.
Companies Involved
– Cyper Pharmaceuticals: The proprietor of Cyper Pharmaceuticals was arrested in May 2023 for allegedly producing spurious drugs ².
– Digital Vision: Digital Vision is linked to a cough syrup that allegedly led to the death of 12 infants in Jammu and Kashmir in 2020 ¹.
– Nixi Laboratories Pvt Ltd: Nixi Laboratories Pvt Ltd was asked to stop the production of Propofol injection after the death of five patients in PGIMER, Chandigarh, who were administered the sedative drug ¹.
– Alliance Biotech: The sample of heparin sodium injection manufactured by Alliance Biotech was found to be spurious ².
Action Taken
– Legal Action: Legal action has been taken against 10 pharmaceutical companies in Himachal Pradesh ¹.
– Product Permissions Suspended: Product permissions have been suspended for some companies ⁴.
– Licenses Suspended: Licenses of some companies have been suspended ⁴.
– Show-Cause Notices: Show-cause notices have been issued to some companies ⁴.
