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The licenses of 176 retailers and 39 wholesalers have been canceled throughout Maharashtra prior to now yr over substandard medicines, Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Narhari Zirwal instructed the State Meeting on Wednesday (December 10, 2025).
In a written reply to a query raised by BJP MLA Amit Satam and others, Mr. Zirwal stated that samples of cough syrup and different medicines had been despatched for testing and evaluation as a part of a particular marketing campaign launched by the FDA.
“Licenses of 176 retailers and 39 wholesalers had been cancelled. Additional, 136 retailers and 93 wholesalers had been inspected. Present-cause notices had been issued and licenses had been canceled for promoting substandard cough syrups,” he stated.
Mr. Zirwal stated faux cough syrups had been present in drug shops and firms in the course of the FDA drive in October, 2024. “Docs, scientific institutions and pharmacists had been instructed to not prescribe or promote medicines containing propranolol,” he stated.
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The FDA minister stated 36 samples had been examined at 10 places throughout Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Aurangabad and Nagpur divisions, of which 34 had been discovered to be substandard. These included medicines for hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, coronary heart illness and blood purification, he stated.
Six samples of a particular model of pediatric cough syrup within the State had been additionally discovered to be of inferior high quality.
In response to Mr. Zirwal, some elements had been altered or mixed, and the medication was offered out there below a brand new identify. He stated some faux and substandard medicines had been equipped to authorities hospitals by unauthorized corporations.
“Drug testing and management work in lots of districts had been affected as 176 posts of drug inspectors had been vacant,” he stated. Maharashtra has three testing laboratories in Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune.
Mr. Zirwal stated 109 posts of drug inspectors shall be stuffed by means of the Maharashtra Public Service Fee.
The Minister stated drug testing and management work is being carried out with the human assets obtainable with the division, and efforts are being made to improve the laboratories in Nashik and Pune.
Printed – December 10, 2025 02:54 pm IST