Telangana DCA Introduces SMS Alert System to Warn Pharmacies About Substandard Medicines
New Delhi: The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has introduced a bulk SMS alert system to immediately notify pharmacies and drug wholesalers across the state about medicines that are found to be substandard or classified as "Not of Standard Quality" (NSQ).
The initiative aims to strengthen drug safety monitoring and prevent such medicines from reaching patients.
Under the newly introduced system, the drug regulator will send instant SMS alerts to retail pharmacies and wholesale drug dealers whenever a drug sample is declared NSQ by the Drugs Control Laboratory in Hyderabad. These alerts will instruct medical shops to immediately stop the sale and distribution of the identified medicines and ensure their swift withdrawal from the market.
Officials explained that medicines classified as NSQ are those that fail to meet prescribed quality standards during laboratory testing. These failures may occur in key quality parameters such as assay, dissolution, and disintegration tests, which determine whether a medicine contains the correct amount of active ingredient and dissolves properly in the body. Medicines that fail such tests may become ineffective in treating diseases and may pose potential risks to patient safety.
The DCA stated that the SMS-based alert platform will enable quicker recall and removal of substandard medicines from the market by ensuring real-time communication with pharmacies and wholesalers across the pharmaceutical supply chain. By informing sales units immediately, the regulator expects pharmacies to take prompt action and prevent the circulation of such medicines.
Officials also noted that the digital system will enhance transparency in regulatory communication by directly sharing information on NSQ drugs with stakeholders across the state. The alert mechanism can also be used in the future to disseminate important regulatory updates and drug safety advisories to pharmacies.
According to a recent media report by The Hindu, with the introduction of the bulk SMS alert mechanism, Telangana has become one of the few states in India to implement a real-time digital communication platform aimed at strengthening drug safety monitoring and regulatory coordination within the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The Drugs Control Administration stated that the initiative reflects its proactive approach to strengthening regulatory oversight and protecting public health by ensuring that substandard medicines are identified quickly and removed from circulation.
