Punjab Bans 112 Substandard Drugs After CDSCO Warning
Punjab: In a decisive move to safeguard public health, the Punjab Government has banned the sale of 112 medicines declared "substandard" by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). The action follows several recent incidents in which the consumption of certain drugs reportedly led to fatalities.
Earlier, the Medical Dialogues Team reported that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) identified 112 batches of medicines and medical products as "Not of Standard Quality" (NSQ) after samples tested in September 2025 by its central and state laboratories failed to meet required pharmacopeial and safety standards.
The flagged products cover a wide range of therapeutic categories, including antibiotics, analgesics, antipyretics, antidiabetics, and other essential medicines.
These include Glimepiride Tablets IP 1 mg, manufactured by Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals; Telmisartan tab I.P. 40 mg, manufactured by Helax Healthcare, Bromhexine Hydrochloride Tablets IP 4 mg, manufactured by J.P. Industries; Rabeprazole Sodium Injection IP, manufactured by Martin & Brown Bio-Sciences, Dexamethasone Injection I.P., manufactured by SGS Pharmaceuticals, Pantoprazole Tablets I.P,. manufactured by Healers Lab, Cefixime Tablets IP 200 mg, manufactured by SVR Healthcare, and others.
The list further includes Diclofenac Sodium and Paracetamol Tablets IP manufactured by Zydus Healthcare, Clobetasol Propionate Neomycin Sulfate and Miconazole Nitrate Cream manufactured by Macleods Pharmaceuticals, Ivabradine Tablets 5 mg manufactured by Hetero Labs.
Following this, the Punjab Government has imposed a strict ban on the sale of substandard medicines.
Balbir Singh, the state’s Health Minister, revealed the move in a social media message posted on Sunday, saying;
"Following a report from the CDSCO declaring these drugs to be of poor quality, the Health Department has ordered their immediate removal from the market. Citizens are advised to avoid using any of the listed medicines. Ensuring the health and safety of every resident remains the top priority of the Mann Government."
