DCA seizes illegal drugs

Hyderabad: In a major haul, the State Drug Control Administration (DCA) has seized a variety of spurious and illegal drugs valued at around Rs 5.36 crore in the State.

Raids were conducted during February-September 2007 and seizures made of drugs manufactured without valid licence, physician samples not for sale and drugs marked as Government supply.

Uncanny resemblance

The State Minister for Hospital Services and Drug Control Administration, Mr Vanama Venkateshwar Rao, told newspersons today that all the spurious drugs resemble in respect of design, colour combination to that of the original manufacturer.

Giving examples, the Administration said oxytocin injection for veterinary use (for cattle) has been labelled as manufactured by Ambica Pharmaceuticals, Gaya.

Some labels

Some drugs which were suspected/purported to be spurious for example were Primolut-N tablets labelled as manufactured by Cadila Health Care, Moraiya, Ahmedabad; Duphaston tablets from Solvay Pharma India, Andheri, Mumbai; Dolonex D.T. tab labelled Pfizer Ltd, Navi Mumbai, and Voveran (pain killer) SR 100 mg, as Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Pune.

The Director-General of the DCA, Mr R.P. Meena, said they formed special teams of drug inspectors and other officials to conduct surprise raids.