Jaipur: Following the deaths of four children allegedly caused by cough syrup, the health department has intensified measures to test the quality of medicines in the state.A health department report released Friday declared nine drugs as substandard between Oct 1 to 15.The manufacturers of these drugs are based in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. The health department directed its drug safety officers to verify the quality of other batches and drugs from these manufacturers available in the market.As the manufacturers are from other states, the health department notified the Drugs Controller General India and drug controllers of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and several other states. Additionally, the department informed all superintendents of hospitals attached to govt medical colleges and chief medical health officers of the state.“All drug controllers of the state have been asked to ensure the quality of other batches and drugs of said manufacturers available in the market from time to time,” said a senior health department official.They shared details of the samples declared as not of standard quality on test and analysis to prevent consumption of these drugs and to provide appropriate safeguards to consumers by withdrawing available stock and taking action as per the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules.The health department’s drug controllers collect random samples from chemists and send them for laboratory testing to check quality.
