Government plans a crackdown on pharma firms selling drugs as dietary supplements

NEW DELHI, 15 MAY: The government is planning a crackdown on drug companies selling medicines under the garb of dietary supplements, which are not regulated. Senior officials in the department of pharmaceuticals and the health ministry said several drug makers have secured approval for drugs as dietary supplements under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, where price and other regulations on drugs do not apply.

GoM on drug pricing to meet after House session

New Delhi, 18 May: An inter-ministerial panel headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, set up to frame drug pricing policy, will meet again after the ongoing session of Parliament in order to study views from various stakeholders. "We will sit sometime after the (Parliament) session. I have to ask views of others, because few members were not present today," Pawar told reporters after meeting representatives of two NGOs and Member of Parliament Jyoti Mirdha

Maharashtra drug body cracks down on misleading ads

Mumbai, 6 May The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration has initiated action against manufacturers of medicines and instruments, newspapers, TV channels and cable operators making outrageous claims through advertisements.

Rs 2cr worth ephedrine seized at Chennai airport

Chennai, 2 May: Customs officials seized Rs 2 crore worth ephedrine, a controlled substance for import and export under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, from city-based Mohammad Ghayas, 28, who was bound to Kuala Lumpur on an Air Asia flight from Chennai on Monday. A statement from the Office of the Commissioner of Customs said the passenger concealed 25 kg of the stimulant drug inside 52 packets of Hans Chhap Khaini, a tobacco product, and kept them inside his checked-in bagged to avoid detection.

DCA Chhattisgarh seizes cough syrup Phensedyl

Chennai, 18 April: In a recent raid conducted in various parts of the state, the Chhattisgarh drugs control administration has seized 8,79,981 bottles of restricted drug, Phensedyl cough syrup manufactured by Nicholas Piramal, from various shops in Raipur and nearby areas. The seized items would worth about Rs.6.15 crore.