Drugs of 18 pharma firms found substandard since 2018

News

The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) has found 25 batches of drugs of 18 pharmaceutical companies to be of substandard quality since January 2018.

• BPPI implements the Centre’s flagship affordable medicine scheme Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Pariyojana  (PMBJP).
• 17 out of the 18 companies are private, one is a public sector unit (PSU).
• Both the BPPI and the IDPL (the PSU found to possess sub-standard batches of drugs) work under the Department of Pharmaceuticals of the Central government.
• Under the PMBJP scheme, the BPPI has entered into a contract with 146 pharmaceutical manufacturing companies for procuring generic medicines to be sold through dedicated retail outlets.
• Once the affordable generic drugs are procured from the pharmaceutical companies by the BPPI, they are supplied to various Janaushadhi Kendras, managed under the PMBJP.

Know More About PMBJP ?

• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses.
• PMBJP stores have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
• It was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in 2008 under the name Jan Aushadi Campaign.
• Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementation agency for PMBJP.
• The branded (Generic) medicines are sold at significantly higher prices than their unbranded generic equivalents, though are identical in the therapeutic value.
• Given the widespread poverty across the country, making available reasonably priced quality generic medicines in the market would benefit everyone.

Steps taken By BPPI :

Whenever a market complaint is raised, where a product is declared as substandard, certain steps are taken by the BPPI with immediate effect.

• Sale and distribution of batches identified as ‘Not of Standard Quality’ is stopped to all level.
• The item is then recalled from all levels.
• Technical documents such as out of specification investigation report, root cause analysis and Corrective and Preventive Action are collected from the supplier on requirement.
• If satisfactory reply is not received, stringent action is initiated, such as forfeiture of security deposit, recovery of cost of entire batch, blacklisting or debarment of firm etc.

Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/drugs-of-18-pharma-firms-found-substandard-since-2018/article27958024.ece