New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has banned manufacture and distribution of 328 fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs in India, citing their irrational use.
The FDCs are more than one drugs combined in a fixed ratio into a single dosage.
“The Drugs Technical Advisory Board recommended, amongst other things, that there is no therapeutic justification for the ingredients contained in 328 FDCs and that these FDCs may involve risk to human beings. The board recommended that it is necessary to prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of these FDCs under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, in the larger public interest,” the Ministry said on Wednesday.
Some of the popular medicines that have been banned are Saridon (painkiller), Panderm (skin cream), Gluconorm PG (combination diabetes drug), Lupidiclox (antibiotic) and Taxim AZ (antibacterial). The market share of these drugs combined is estimated to be around Rs 2000-2500 crore, according to a report by News18.
