
Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has banned popular medicines, declaring them 'unsafe' after an investigation by the Union Health Ministry's Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB).
These are medicines that contain Nimesulide (a suspension to treat pain and fever in children), Cisapride (for treating stomach acid) and Phenylpropanolamine (a component of popular cold and cough syrups). They include popular brands like Vicks Action 500 and D'Cold.
Mitam Barooah, emergency medicine consultant, NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham states, "Most of these banned drugs which anyone can buy from a pharmacy without any valid prescription are in high demand. The orders are out in Delhi but with no medical awareness among customers and even sometimes doctors, most people remain ignorant."
The banned drugs constitute Rs 20 crore of India's Rs 50,000-crore pharma market. Drug manufactures had stopped making Nimesulide medicines, which had serious side-effects affecting the liver, after they were banned in Britain, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
India needs to build public awareness of drug regulation.
Source: Medindia
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