Daijiworld Media Network - Jaipur

Jaipur, Sep 11: The Rajasthan Drug Control Commissionerate has initiated further action after quality tests found five of 18 medicine samples seized from an unlicensed medicine warehouse in Bhiwadi to be substandard, Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) Gayatri Rathore said on Thursday.

Rathore said around 1,500 cartons of medicines and other materials worth Rs 4 crore were seized during the operation, which was conducted based on confidential information.

In compliance with court orders, the seized material has been placed in the custody of the Drug Control Officer.

During the operation, medicines manufactured and marketed by various companies were found at the premises. Eighteen samples were collected and sent for quality testing.

Following the test results, the Drug Control Commissionerate ordered detailed investigations by the respective manufacturing units.

Drug Control Commissioner Avichal Chaturvedi said inspection teams have been dispatched to the concerned manufacturing units on the directions of the Commissionerate.

The teams will scrutinise manufacturing records, raw materials, quality-control records, batch production records and documents related to the distribution and supply chain of the concerned batches.

The inspections will also verify whether the manufacturing, quality testing, storage and distribution of the medicines were carried out in accordance with prescribed standards and regulatory requirements.

Chaturvedi said necessary action under the law and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act would be taken based on the investigation findings.

He stressed that no negligence would be tolerated in matters concerning medicine quality and public health, or in cases involving unlicensed pharmaceutical trade.

Action in accordance with the law will be taken against the individuals, institutions and other parties concerned based on the facts established during the investigation, he said.