Bhubaneswar, 3 December (H.S.): In a major step to strengthen public health safety, the Health and Family Welfare Department of Odisha has initiated a special drive to trace and recall deceptively labelled oral rehydration solution (ORS) packs from medicine outlets across the state.

Drugs Controller Mamina Patnaik informed that ORS solutions must strictly adhere to the WHO-recommended formula and are to be manufactured only by licensed pharmaceutical companies. These medically approved ORS packets are typically sold through authorised drug stores.

However, recent inspections revealed that several liquid products—misleadingly labelled as ORS/Electrolyte—are being sold in the market under FSSAI approval, despite not meeting clinical standards for managing dehydration.

“These products are not suitable for clinical management of dehydration and may mislead consumers, posing health risks,” Patnaik cautioned.

Officials of the Drugs Control Directorate have been conducting intensified inspections over the past two weeks. According to official data, 7,92,000 units of such deceptively labelled ORS products, worth nearly ₹4 crore, have already been seized and recalled from medicine shops.

The Health Department has stated that the drive will continue until the market is completely cleared of such products. Strict action has been warned against drug dealers and retailers who stock or sell these misleading ORS packs.

Retailers have been categorically instructed not to store or sell any ORS-like products that do not comply with WHO standards or are falsely marketed.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda