The Himachal Pradesh government launched a probe through the local drug control office after 1,680 drug samples failed tests in the last three years. The failed samples include tablets, capsules, oral liquids, small and large volume parenteral (Injections), dry syrups, soft gelatin capsules, and vaccines, among others.
Responding to questions raised in the Assembly by MLAs – Kewal Singh Pathania and Vipin Singh Parmar, 1,683 samples had failed quality tests, till January 2024. Of this, 374 samples failed in the last one year. Detailed findings on the samples taken from manufacturing units primarily in Baddi, are expected to be presented before the Assembly in July, Businessline reported.
Baddi is a growing hub for manufacturers, including the pharmaceutical industry. The state has 38 drug controllers monitoring and inspecting the quality of medicines produced. Besides Baddi, manufacturers are also based out of Barotiwala and Nalagarh, in Solan district. Samples were also collected from Sirmaur and Una.
“A probe is currently under way and samples from various manufacturing facilities in Solan are being collected. Tests are being carried out. We are hopeful that a detailed report will be put forth in the upcoming assembly session scheduled for July,” Pathania told Businessline.
The list included older incidents involving samples of Levolite M syrup and Orvastin tablets of Morepen Laboratories. Product permissions suspension was extended from five days to five months. A Morepen Laboratories spokesperson told Businessline, “Based on the findings we had recalled batches from the market. We followed guidelines laid down by the state authority. The issue currently stands resolved.”
