Shimla, 6 November 2024 – Over the past 22 months, from January 2023 to October 2024, a total of 142 inspections were carried out by State Inspection Officers in coordination with Central Inspection Officers.
These inspections led to stringent actions, including suspension, cancellation, and production stoppage orders, against 116 drug manufacturing companies whose products were found substandard.
In a review meeting chaired by Health and Family Welfare Minister Col. Dr. Dhaniram Shandil, the quality of medicines was the focal point. “For non-compliance in manufacturing quality medicines, pharmaceutical companies face product suspensions ranging from one to two months. Legal action is also initiated, and inspection authorities in states where such samples are collected are suspended,” Shandil stated.
He underscored the importance of companies reviewing and improving their manufacturing processes.
Himachal Pradesh, which produces approximately 33% of India’s medicines, has outperformed the national average in quality control. While the national percentage of substandard drugs stands at 3.16%, the state’s figure over the last three years is significantly lower at 1.22%.
The minister noted that substandard drug data is submitted to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization and displayed publicly on its website for transparency.
The meeting also accentuated the growing concern of drug abuse among children. Proposals to stamp prescriptions were discussed to prevent repeated purchases of abused drugs, along with stricter controls on selling medicines to minors without a doctor’s prescription. “Drug addiction among children is alarming and needs public awareness campaigns alongside stringent measures,” Shandil said.
Health Secretary M. Sudha Devi, State Drug Controller Manish Kapoor, and Drug Control Officers from various districts attended the meeting, underscoring the state’s commitment to ensuring high-quality medicines and combating drug abuse.