Hordes of youngsters, especially boys, from Nagpur and other cities in India, who have been fast falling for the cough syrups like Corex and Phensedyl to get their ‘high’, may not be able to get their supply from now onwards! The health ministry has taken a significant yet beneficial step to ban around 350 fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs that were widely available in the market till now. All these drugs that contain codeine whichi cause lethal damage to brain and psyche.
The government has decided to prohibit manufacturing and sale of these medicines because they were found to be “irrational” without any therapeutic efficacy and use. Also, in some cases, there were concerns about misuse of such medicines considered unsafe for mass consumption, official sources informed Media.
While the health ministry has already approved the ban order with immediate effect from Friday , the gazette notification is likely to be printed by Monday, a health ministry official said.
“We have deliberated on the issue for around four years and these cases were examined and evaluated at different levels by the drug regulator as well as by an expert committee.
Following their recommendations, we also issued show cause notices to companies manufacturing and selling these drugs. The responses have also been considered in detail before arriving at this decision in public interest,” the official said.
