There is no move to ban paracetamol, commonly used for fever, in India, the government said. Replying to a written query in Rajya Sabha, Union minister of state for chemicals and fertilisers Anupriya Patel said, “the Ministry of health and family welfare has informed that the (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) CDSCO is not in receipt of information about rumors” of the regulatory body banning paracetamol.
Paracetamol is not banned in the country, she said, adding although in the recent past, various fixed dose combinations, including such some with paracetamol and other drugs, have been banned in the country. The list of all banned combinations is available on the CDSCO website, she said.
To ensure availability of essential drugs and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure of patients visiting public health facilities, including government hospitals and rural primary health centers, the government has rolled out the free drugs service initiative under the National Health Mission, she said.
