The Jharkhand Drug Administration has imposed a state-wide ban on the use and distribution of five medicines manufactured by Lupin Ltd, Aurangabad, Nestor Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Faridabad and Pure Pharmaceuticals Ltd.These medicines — Pyrazinamide IP-750mg, Isoniazid (Tab) IP-300mg, Pyridoxinc IP-5mg, Ethambutol (Tab) IP-600mg and Rifampicin (Cap) — are prescribed to TB patients and were supplied to hundreds of government-run hospitals in the state by the Union Health Ministry last year.State Drug Controller Vinay Mohan Prasad said: ‘‘Samples were collected by drug inspectors from Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Dumka and Dhanbad. Laboratory test confirmed the suspicion that these medicines were of substandard variety.’’ In his July 28 letter — circulated to all civil surgeons, superintendents of state-run hospitals in 22 districts of the state and Jharkhand Chemists and Druggists’ Association (JDCA) — Prasad has stated that ‘‘the ban is being imposed on use and distribution of the above medicines’’.Person incharge of SL, Dr. B.N. Sinha, in his March 23 report to Prasad states: ‘‘In the opinion of the undersigned, the samples selected ‘do not conform’ to the claims in respect of the test performed’’.Explaining Sinha’s report, Prasad said: ‘‘This means these medicines lack potency as per the claims made by the manufacturers.”
