Rs 24 lakh worth of faulty medicines recalled in statewide Karnataka crackdown

The Drug Administration Department of Karnataka has withdrawn defective medications totaling Rs 24.3 lakh from the market as part of a campaign against subpar pharmaceuticals. This comes after a statewide testing and inspection campaign that was conducted in February and March with the goal of protecting public health.

Thousands of medication samples were gathered by drug inspectors from pharmacies around Karnataka and sent for analysis to government labs in Bengaluru, Hubballi, and Ballari. Of the 1,891 samples tested in March alone, 41 did not fulfill quality norms, according to the sources.

Concerns regarding the safety of medications used during C-section procedures were highlighted by the crackdown that followed a string of maternal deaths reported at Ballari District Hospital. Numerous batches of Ringer lactate intravenous fluids, which are frequently used during surgeries, may have contributed to the deaths, according to investigations. 78 producers were sued after 113 of the 196 examined batches were determined to be subpar, as per  the sources.

Furthermore, 215 drug licenses were suspended for a variety of infractions after the drug control inspectors examined 2,078 medical stores throughout Karnataka. Formulations of paracetamol, sodium chloride injections, levocetirizine, azithromycin, metformin, vitamin D3, and iron-folic acid supplements are among the medications that most frequently fail quality tests.

In the meantime, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao emphasized that public safety remains a top priority. “We have taken legal action against those responsible and recalled all 41 drugs that failed the quality tests,” he said.