Staff Reporter :
The Health Ministry of India has banned around 350 fixed-dose combination [FDC] drugs, including popular cough syrups like Phensedyl and Corex, that were widely available in the market till now, Times of India reported.
The Indian government has decided to prohibit manufacturing and sale of these medicines because they were found to be “irrational” without any therapeutic efficacy and use.
Also, in some cases, there were concerns about misuse of such medicines considered unsafe for mass consumption, quoting official sources TOI said.
While the Health Ministry has already banned those drugs with effect from Friday, the gazette notification is likely to be printed by Monday, a Health Ministry official said.
“We have deliberated upon the issue for about four years and these cases were examined and evaluated at different levels by the drug regulator as well as by an expert committee.
“Following their recommendations, we also issued show cause notices on the companies manufacturing and selling these drugs. The responses were also considered in detail before arriving at this decision in public interest,” the official said.
It is mentionable that intoxicating drugs, especially Phensedyl, enter Bangladesh from neighbouring India in increased number threatening public health.
Apart from Phensedyl [codiene based a class ‘one’ narcotic liquid], several other narcotics including, heroin, marijuana, cannabis and different kinds of liquor, enter the country by land, water and air from India, said officials of Department of Narcotics Control Bangladesh.
Besides, a huge quantity of other drugs, such as charas, poppy seed, fermented wash [zauwa], bakhar, liquor, beer, pethidine, morphine, buprenorphin injection, rectified sprit, denatured sprit, tablet [codinal, diazepam, etc.] toluene, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, potassium permanganate, tetrahydrocanabinal and others also enter the country taking the relaxed mood of law enforcing agencies, the officilas further said.
Particularly, the volume of illegal trade between Bangladesh and India is highest due to its vast bordering areas. Bangladesh has borders [west, east and north] with India on its three sides except the south, intercepted by the Bay of Bengal.
