The Indian government has taken a safeguarding step towards public health by banning 156 fixed-dose combinations (FDCs). The category includes all medicines like painkillers, antibiotics, and multivitamins. It is the most prominent crackdown on FDCs, the last time it happened was in 2016 when 344 medicines were prohibited. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a notice to prohibit the manufacturing and selling of these medicines.
Reason Behind the Ban
After careful evaluation of these drugs, it is found that they are composed of two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients. These drugs can benefit patients in various forms like improving compliance and convenience but a single dose with multiple ingredients is harmful. These medicines are also patent as an inappropriate prescription and increase drug resistance with time.
Prominent ban on drugs in this list are Mefenamic acid, Paracetamol injections, Omeprazole Magnesium, and Dicyclomine HCL. Some of these drugs include painkillers, others treat fever and hypertension.
Name of Drugs Banned by Government
As already told, various categories of drugs incorporate abdominal pain medicines, multivitamins, and enzyme composition are under this list. The names of these drugs are as follows:
- Antimony Potassium tartrate composition
- Sucralfate aceclofenac
- Sucralfate domperidone Dimethicone composition
- Aloe Vitamin E Soap
- Povidone Iodine with aloe composition
- Tea tree oil, salicylic acid, with soap composition
- Calamine, allantoin
- Some ketoconazole compositions
- Menthol sprays
- Minoxidil alcohol composition
- Tetracycline colistin sulphate
- Clomiphene citrate
- Divalprox sodium (two compositions)
- Ginkgo Biloba methylcobamin
- Vitamin A, B6, D, B12, C, K with Magnesium Compositions
Most of these compositions contain multiple ingredients that can react with more than one site of Antibody. This reaction will result in the reduction of the immune system and resistance to these drugs at a faster rate.
Steps Towards Safe Medications
This step of the Indian Government is a milestone set for growing commitment to ensure the safety of patients and promotion of better public health. This ban has welcomed professionals and public health advocates for stricter regulation of FDCs in India. It also underscores monitoring and assessment of the pharmaceutical department of India to ensure safety and efficacy standards.