While the Union Health Ministry has been fighting a long battle with manufacturers of various drugs since 2016, the use of which the ministry had banned, Drugs Controller Siva Balan said that only after the order is issued can action be taken against the pharmacies that fail to comply.

It may be recalled that the Health Ministry had, through its notification published in 2016, prohibited the manufacture for sale and distribution for human use of the FDCs under Section 26 A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. “However, manufacturers of various drugs had taken it to the Supreme Court due to which no order had been passed,” said the State Drugs Controller. 

The Ministry has now banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of 328 FDCs of drugs with immediate effect and restricted another six combinations. “We are awaiting the gazette to be issued by the government. Immediately after it is issued, the ban will be brought to play. All pharmacies will be expected to return the drugs – in case the shops still have them – through the supply chain, to the manufacturer. In other words, they must send the drugs back to the wholesaler, who must send it back to the C and F agent, who will in turn send it to the manufacturing company, who must destroy the stock,” he added.

While it is important for pharmacies to avoid the sale of the banned drugs, which also include the commonly used painkiller Saridon and the skin cream Panderm, he said that awareness will be created among the public to ensure that they are aware of the drugs that are banned. 

“After the issue of the gazette, a public notice will be issued on the ban. Action will be taken against any pharmacy failing to comply,” said a Health department official.