LOK SABHA
Seventy-four drugs/drug
formulations have so far been prohibited/phased out. Drugs withdrawn
in some countries can continue to be used by other countries.
The decision rests on various factors such as the disease pattern
in a country, the varying reactions of certain ethnic groups in
a given population to the drug and the availability of safer substitutes
as well as the cost factor involved in the treatment of the particular
disease. There is no system of global banning of drugs. There
is an adequate mechanism to review the status of drugs in India
as and when any serious adverse event is reported in international
journals or WHO newsletters etc.
The drug or formulations
discontinued in developed countries are assessed in consultation
with leading experts in the given specializations. Based on their
advice, the matter is placed before the Drug Technical Advisory
Board (DTAB), a statutory body which comprises of representatives
from the medical profession, the State drug enforcement authorities,
experts, institutions, agencies that advise government on technical
issues related to the implementation of the Drugs and Cosmetics
Act, 1940.
This information
was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals & fertilizers,
Shri Tapan Sikdar, in a written reply to a question in the Lok
Sabha today.
