As many as 24 medicines currently available in the hospitals and chemist shops across Jammu and Kashmir have been declared as "sub-standard" by two premier drug testing laboratories of the country.
Central Drugs Laboratory, Kolkata and Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory, Chandigarh had analysed 156 samples drawn by drug inspectors of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) from different locations in the state in connection with the supply of spurious drugs in the government-run hospitals.
An official in the Drug Controller Department Jammu said the department has taken action after the report came and various drugs have been seized, even as the inquiry is on.
"We have seized certain medicines after the report by the two laboratories reached us and we have also sent show cause notices to various manufacturing companies in this regard. We are duty-bound to act against spurious drugs," he said.
In their report to CDSCO, the laboratories have listed 24 medicines, including two taken from the premier healthcare institute in the Valley - SKIMS, as sub-standard.
The laboratories found the samples of Injection Amoxicillin and Potassium Clavulenate taken from SKIMS and manufactured by a Karnataka based company as sub-standard and having the presence of particulate matter, the report said.
Similarly, the analysis of another drug from the same institute, Injection Zepoxin, manufactured by a Mumbai based company, showed no clarity of the solution and presence of particulate matter, it said.
The samples were taken randomly from various hospitals in Pulwama, Pampore, Baramulla, Doda, Bhaderwah and Srinagar.
The samples of the drug Clonazepam 1 mg taken from the Valley's only psychiatric hospital here also turned out to be sub-standard, the report mentions.
The laboratories also found that spurious drugs were being sold in chemist shops across the state, as many samples, taken from such shops in Pulwama, Udhampur, Srinagar and Kishtwar were found to be sub-standard.
