- Drug Safety Alarm in MP
Bhopal: The quality of pharmaceuticals supplied to government hospitals in Madhya Pradesh has been severely questioned after the MP Medical Corporation Limited (MPMCL) blacklisted 19 medicines this year alone due to substandard quality. Critically, five of the blacklisted drugs were essential medicines administered to children.
Failed quality tests raise concerns
The list of failed drugs includes several common pediatric treatments, such as Paracetamol Drops (which failed tests in March), Gentamicin Injection, and various vitamin supplements like Thiamine Tablets, Multivitamin Tablets, and Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C). These drugs are routinely used to manage fever, infections, and nutritional deficiencies in young patients. The recent blacklisting of Gentamicin in October further underscores the systemic issue.
Increased scrutiny and calls for reform
Following reports of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) in children and the recent high-profile Chhindwara tragedy, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has significantly widened its investigation. Officials assert that all failed batches have been immediately withdrawn from circulation.
However, experts are urging the state government to look beyond just the products. They contend that the situation exposes profound vulnerabilities in the state’s quality control framework and suggest the government must scrutinize the manufacturing companies themselves to prevent future catastrophic failures and restore public confidence in the healthcare system.
