Over 20% medicines at public healthcare of Chhattisgarh outdated

1,590 samples were collected from retails, wholesalers and public healthcare in all parts of Chhattisgarh in time duration of 4 years (2015-2019) and 311 samples of drugs or medicines were not of standard quality and many of them crossed their expiry date too

It is really a shocking factor that 21 per cent of drug or medicine samples collected from different public healthcares consist of civil hospitals, community health centres, primary and sub-primary health centres and 7% from retail as well as wholesale medical stores were declared as not of standard quality. These samples were collected in a period of 2015 to 2018. Even many of them crossed their expiry date and still they were used to give patients in their various ailments. As per WHO order, expired medicines can cause harmful affects to the human body including death, cancer and dangerous infections.

According to the sources of Food and Drug Control Department of Chhattisgarh, of the total 1,590 samples collected from retails, wholesalers and public healthcare in all parts of Chhattisgarh in time duration of 4 years (2015-2019), 311 samples of drugs or medicines were not of standard quality and many of them crossed their expiry date too.

The maximum such poor qualities of medicines were found in primary health centres and sub primary health centres of remote rural areas. Because of absence of doctors as well as pharmacists in these areas, there is no one to check the quality and date of medicines in these health centres. On terms of anonymity, senior officer of Food and Drug Control Department of Chhattisgarh said that it collected 1035 drug samples from 2015 to December 2018 from public health care services in all of 27 districts in the state, in which 207 drugs samples (21%) were not of standard quality. During the same period, 555 samples were collected from retail and wholesalers of pharmacies of which 43 (7%) were not of standard quality. The World Health Organisation (WHO) clearly stated that substandard and falsified medical products may cause harm to patients and fail to treat diseases. It is one of the major factors for rising cases of infections and also of various cancers.

Even some expired dates of medicines related to respiratory ailments is responsible for causing of tuberculosis and bronchitis. Antimalarial and antibiotics are amongst the most commonly reported substandard and falsified medical products. An estimated 1 in 10 medical products in remote as well as tribal districts is substandard or falsified. These contribute to antimicrobial resistance and drug-resistant infections. ‘It is surprising that this quality of medicine could available in almost all parts of the state. Also, these drugs are being distributed in government hospitals where the poor go for treatment,’ said Dr. DN Tripathi, renowned pharmacist and also member of Pharmacy Council of India. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in nation had announced a series of measures to ensure the quality of drugs, including generic drugs manufactured and marketed in the country.

This included directing the states including Chhattisgarh to set up Special Courts for trial of offences under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act for speedy disposal. ‘Guidelines for taking action on samples of drugs declared spurious or not of standard quality in the light of enhanced penalties under the Drugs & Cosmetics (Amendment) Act, 2008, were forwarded to the State Drugs Controllers for uniform implementation’ said a senior official. He added that the testing capacities of Central Drugs Testing Laboratories under CDSCO are being constantly strengthened to expedite testing of drug samples in the country. Meanwhile when approached TS Singhdeo, Cabinet Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Chhattisgarh he pointed out once the election is over he will look out the matter and would take report from all authorities of health department and also of Food and Drug Department regarding it.