DGCI cancels license of 18 pharma firms, months after cough syrup deaths

The Drug Controller General of India on Thursday canceled the licenses of 18 pharmaceutical companies for producing counterfeit drugs, reported news agency ANI. The decision by the DGCA was taken after it examined 76 enterprises across 20 states and union territories, with close to 203 firms being identified for review.

Most of the 18 pharma companies whose license has been canceled are from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, two of the firms are from Madhya Pradesh and one each from Maharashtra and Haryana. This comes months after two Indian pharma companies Maiden and Marion pharmaceuticals have been linked to the deaths of children in Gambia and Uzbekistan, who consumed their cough syrups.

In the first phase of examination, in over 15 days licenses of 76 companies were canceled for manufacturing substandard drugs and for violation of Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines.

Show cause notices to pharma companies

Uttarakhand-based firms Himalaya Meditek and Amscot Health Series licenses have been canceled. Show cause and stop manufacturing notices were given to Shri Sai Balaji Pharmatech from Himachal Pradesh and Medipol Pharmaceutical India, but it was later revoked after verification of compliance. Show cause notice was also issued to Zim Laboratories from Haryana and Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh's Nestor Pharmaceuticals and Sun Aj Pharma and Vintochem Pharmaceuticals.

Pharma companies under scanner

On the other hand companies like Om Biomedic, Skymap Pharmaceuticals, SVP Life Sciences, Relief Biotech, Apple Formulations, HAB Pharmaceuticals and Research, Bajaj Formulations, Rhydburg Pharmaceuticals, Trugen Pharmaceuticals and Agron Remedies will remain under regulatory scanner. Himachal Authorities will also continue to monitor Alliance Biotech, Anrose Pharma, EG Pharmaceuticals, Shri Ramesh Industries, Zee Laboratories, T&G Medicare, Laborate Pharmaceuticals India, Athens Life Sciences, Park Pharmaceuticals, ANG Lifesciences India Limited, GNM Medica Lab and Gnosis Pharmaceuticals Private Limited.

The union health ministry is also preparing regulations for fraudulent practices, e-pharmacy stores, irrational drug sales and addressing data privacy concerns.