Shillong, Jan 11: The Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) today has found out that the Induscreed Pharmaceutical Industry has been allegedly manufacturing spurious drugs and selling them in the state.
Following strong inputs the CSWO conducted inspection and found out that the company has been operating even though its license had been cancelled by the Assistant Drugs Controller (ADC) for failing to comply with the standard and norms set by the Indian Pharmacopoeia.
During an inspection conducted by the CSWO it was found out that the company established in an industrial estate near the Food Corporation of India has been manufacturing medicines and supplying the drugs to different health centres of the government spread across the state, putting at risk the lives of people taking them.
Terming that the company is creating a risk to the people of the state as medicine has been manufactured in a very unhygenic manner whereby it does not even folllow the standard of good manufacturing practices Kharshiiing said, “The place where the medicines have been manufactured is quite pathetic and unhygienic and it does not follow good manufacturing practices”.
Expressing serious concerned on the operation carried out by the company, the CSWO threatened to approach the court with a plea to direct the state government to cancel the license of a pharmaceutical company “We will file a PIL to seek immediate action against the medicine manufacturing industry and those involved in issuing the license to it”, Kharshiing warned.
Kharshiing also informed that in a letter to the Director of Health Services (MI), Shillong on October 10, 2012, the medical superintendent of Ganesh Das Hospital had sought clarification on the strength of ‘Albendazole Suspension’ supplied by Induscreed Pharmaceutical. The letter said as per Indian Pharmacopoeia, the standard strength of Albendazole Suspension should be 400mg for 10ml, but the medicines being supplied to the hospital were of 200mg for 10ml.
Meanwhile, the CSWO also expressed hope that a suo moto case would be taken up by the high court so that such people responsible are arrested immediately as the medicines are being taken by the children in the rural areas. It is also contemplating seeking the intervention of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on the matter. (SPNEWSAGENCY).
