Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the sale of spurious and expired drugs is going on unabated in small towns and villages especially in remote and far flung areas of the country, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any campaign has been launched to create awareness among the public apart from strict vigilance to check the sale of such medicines; and
(c) if so, the details thereof ?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)
(a): In accordance with the provisions of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made thereunder, the sale of drugs in the country is regulated by State Licensing Authorities (SLAs). No such reports of unabated sale of spurious and expired drugs in small towns and villages of the country have been received.
(b) & (c): No specific campaign has been launched to create awareness among the public. However, the Government has increased the number of samples of drugs and also undertaken risk based inspection of manufacturing units. These measures will reduce the availability of Not of Standard Quality medicines in the market to a large extent.