The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has assessed 56 drug samples through its central laboratories and 24 additional samples tested in state labs during October as failing to meet the required quality standards, labeling them as Not of Standard Quality (NSQ).
Furthermore, the Bihar Drugs Control Authority has identified three drug samples as counterfeit or fake, manufactured by unknown entities, unauthorizedly using the brand names belonging to other firms. An investigation is currently underway regarding these findings.
“The identification of NSQ and counterfeit medications is an ongoing process done in partnership with state regulators to ensure the removal of these drugs from the market,” stated the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in a press release.
As part of routine regulatory surveillance, the list of substandard and counterfeit drugs is updated monthly on the CDSCO website.
Drug samples are categorized as NSQ when they do not meet certain specified quality parameters. This classification only applies to the specific batch of drug products tested by government labs and does not imply any issues with other products available in the market, the statement continued.