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. The FDA has already served notices to 50 companies manufacturing medicines and instruments which make tall and misleading claims such as losing 10 kilos in a week. Some newspapers and 30 channels have also been served notices under the Drugs & Magic Remedies Objectionable Advertisements Act, 1954. Worried about such products masquerading as medicines and their impact on the health of the consumers, FDA has launched a massive campaign against such advertisements. "There are 54 types of diseases mentioned in the schedules of the Act, on which there are restrictions for rolling out advertisements. Despite strict provisions, advertisements are printed and telecast. Our drive has started showing positive results as newspapers in particular have stopped printing 100 such advertisements. Some though appear in a couple of them. Drugs inspectors across the state are in the middle of filing first information report with the police against the concerned companies and persons who have violated the provisions of the Act," said Mahesh Zagde, FDA commissioner. The Act has a provision wherein violators can be imprisoned anywhere between six months and a year. Zagde said the Act was challenged, but the Supreme Court has upheld it in the past. "People should take any medicines only under the advice of experts as every person has his or her profile. Application of medicines or use of instruments shown in advertisements may have side effects. The Act makes it clear there is a relationship between medical experts, the medicine and the patient. However, there cannot be any direct relationship between the patient and medicine." Apart from anti-obesity products, some ads also claim to increase height, cure erectile dysfunction, make skin younger, cure serious diseases like arthritis, joint pains et cetera. Zagde said the provisions of the Act have allegedly been misused by the unscrupulous manufacturers of drugs and instruments. He said there are about 900 channels in the country but not all of them feature these advertisements. Only those engaged in stiff competition, which include many regional channels as well are are showing such ads at the cost of health of consumers, he said.

Business Standard