Chennai sources stated that after re-looking into the ban of fixed dose combination drugs, the Supreme Court is to ban around 344 combination drugs that include cough syrups, painkillers and flu medicines like Phensedyl, Saridon, Vicks Action 500, Dart, Corex and D’Cold Total very soon. Meanwhile the officials at state chemists and druggists association are expected to receive the final notification in the coming week, said the officials.
Even though the issue the regulation and ban of fixed dose combination drugs was already raised and the High Court had ordered the ban in 2016, Pharma companies approached the apex court for relief. Previously the drug advisory body reviewed the issue and recommended the ban of medications, after which the Supreme Court is likely to impose the ban of sale, manufacture and distribution of these drugs very soon.
Moreover the 344 combinations including those of
paracetamol, phenylephrine and caffeine; chlorpheniramine maleate, codeine
syrup and paracetamol, propyphenazone and caffeine might have more than 5,000
products and will have a huge impact on the medical hub and market. However,
members of the Tamilnadu Chemists’ and Druggists’ Association are worried about
disposing the current stock of the medicines.