HC upholds order on low-quality drugs

The High Court today upheld its earlier order that directed the government to stop producing substandard drugs of 20 pharmaceutical companies and antibiotics of 14 others.

Delivering a verdict on a writ petition, the HC bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan ordered the government to form a five-member committee to monitor whether the directives are implemented.

The committee will submit report to the High Court on a quarterly basis. 

Earlier on August 8 last year, the High Court ordered the government to stop the marketing of sub-standard drugs of 20 pharmaceutical companies and antibiotics of 14 others and to withdraw those products from the markets.

The 20 drug companies are Aexim Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Avert Pharma Ltd, Bikolpo Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Dolphin Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Drugland Ltd, Globe Laboratories (pvt) Ltd, Jalpha Laboratories Ltd, Kafma Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Medico Pharmaceuticals Ltd, National Drug Pharma Ltd, North Bengal Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Remo Chemicals Ltd (Pharma Division), Rid Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Skylab Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Spark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Star Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Sunipun Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Today Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Tropical Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Universal Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

The 14 companies that must stop manufacturing antibiotics are Ad Din Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Alkad Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Belsen Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Bengal Drugs Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Bistol Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Crystal Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Indo Bangla Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Millat Pharmaceuticals Ltd, MST Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Orbit Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Pharmatik Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Phoenix Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Rasa Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Save Pharmaceuticals Ltd.