Baddi-based pharma firms under scanner as key medicines found substandard
Shimla: In a concerning development for India’s pharmaceutical industry, 196 drug samples have failed quality testing across the country.
Among them, 57 substandard samples were manufactured in Himachal Pradesh, a state known for its thriving pharmaceutical industry, particularly in the Baddi industrial belt.
What is even more alarming is that several of these failed samples belong to reputed companies. The substandard drugs include essential medicines like Almox-500 capsules (used to prevent pneumonia), sodium chloride injections (used to treat dehydration and sodium deficiency), and rabeprazole injections (used for ulcer treatment).
In addition, a sample of liquid paracetamol syrup — commonly administered to children during fever — also did not meet the required standards.
According to reports, 37 samples were collected by the State Drug Laboratory, while 20 were tested by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). Of the total 60 samples tested by the state laboratory across the country, 20 were found to be from Himachal-based units. Meanwhile, out of 136 failed samples identified by the CDSCO nationwide, 37 were traced back to Himachal.
Two Baddi-based companies have come under particular scrutiny — Martin and Brown, whose four samples failed, and Capetap, which saw eight of its products fail quality checks.
State Drug Controller Manish Kapoor confirmed the failures and stated that strict action would be taken against the erring pharmaceutical firms. “Notices will be issued to the concerned companies, and their manufacturing licenses are likely to be cancelled. The stock of these drugs will be recalled from the market immediately,” he said, adding that the department will also conduct independent testing of the affected batches.
The revelations raise serious questions about drug safety and quality control in India’s pharma hubs and are likely to trigger regulatory tightening in the days to come, said an official.
TNR
