New Delhi, February 10 (HS): Deputy Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari today raised the issue of substandard medicines in the country. Along with this, he demanded from the government and the Health Minister present in the House to increase awareness about this in the country and ensure quality production of medicines.

During the Question Hour in the House, Congress member Pramod Tiwari raised questions on the harm caused by life-saving substandard medicines in the country and said that crores of people are being affected due to this. Citing the report of the Drugs Controller General of India, he said that more than 50 medicines being sold in the country are being made of substandard quality. These include medicines ranging from paracetamol to blood pressure, cough, multivitamin and calcium etc. He expressed concern that a network of substandard and fake medicines is spreading in the country.

He said that according to a 2022 report, more than 15 percent of the medicines of small drug manufacturers have failed the quality test. Small drug manufacturers focus more on rural areas. These drugs are more dangerous for public health. He said that according to an estimate, 12 to 25 percent of the medicines being produced may be adulterated, substandard or fake.

Deputy Leader of Opposition Tiwari said that in the amendment made in 2023 under the Public Health Bill, compounding was allowed if the quality was not standard under 27 DMSQ. According to this provision, manufacturers can now pay a fine for the offense. If there is a provision for punishment, then perhaps people will be saved. The government of course says that the above amendment will reduce the harassment of manufacturers, while critics say that this is making medicines of poor quality.

Tiwari said that 38 percent of substandard medicines are being prescribed in government hospitals. He demanded that along with running a comprehensive awareness campaign for this, adequate quality should be ensured at the level of drug manufacturing. He said that this business has increased a lot since 2015. It has increased further after compounding.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar