Over 100 Indian Pharma Plants Shut Down After Cough Syrup Deaths Spark Quality Control Clampdown
In a strict crackdown on quality control standards, the national drug regulator of India has ordered the closure of more...
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In a strict crackdown on quality control standards, the national drug regulator of India has ordered the closure of more than 100 pharmaceutical plants across the country. This action comes after cough syrup manufactured in India was linked to the deaths of several children.
India's drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), has been conducting a rigorous inspection program in response to these incidents. Over the past year and a half, the CDSCO has carried out "risk-based inspections" at more than 400 pharmaceutical manufacturing units across the country. This program was initiated after cough syrup produced in India and exported worldwide was linked to the tragic deaths of dozens of children.
These inspections revealed lapses in quality control measures at a significant number of facilities. As a result, the authorities have taken decisive action, ordering the closure of over 36% of the inspected units (more than 100 plants).
While this shutdown may disrupt the supply of medicines in India to some extent, the exact impact and any measures to ensure continued availability of essential medications are still being determined. It's crucial to understand that ensuring the safety and efficacy of medications is paramount. The Indian government's efforts to enforce stricter quality control standards aim to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
According to CDSCO chief Rajeev Raghuvanshi, the impacted facilities were primarily micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that "realized they cannot meet the expectations of the regulators" and opted to close down. Raghuvanshi emphasized that these actions shouldn't be seen as a reflection on the entire Indian pharmaceutical industry. He acknowledged there are "defaulters" and assured that the government is taking action against them. Additionally, the Indian government is planning to implement several projects to help the industry improve product quality.
