Make names of banned drugs public: Cong MP to Govt

'People should know the names of all such drugs which have been banned.'

As the government banned about 350 fixed dose combination drugs, Congress member Rajeev Shukla on Wednesday expressed surprise that such medicines were being manufactured and sold for so many years and sought that the list of these drugs be made public.

"This is a serious matter. I believe that when government took action against 115 pharmaceutical companies, the full list (of the companies) should be made public as well as the names of the drugs," he said while raising the issue during the Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha.

He said several companies were manufacturing these medicines in violation of norms.

Citing reports that household names like Corex and Vicks Action 500 have been banned, Shukla said people should know the names of all such drugs which have been banned.

"While giving licences, the government should also look into what the drug companies make and what is their performance as it is a question of people's health," he added.

In a gazette notification on March 10, the government had, among others, banned manufacture, sale and distribution of fixed does combination of chlopheniramine maleate plus codiene syrup, which is used in cough syrups.