Over 340 'irrational' drugs to go off shelves soon; many more under scanner

To hit Rs 20-bn market; 944 more fixed-dosage combination drugs under scanner

The Centre is one step closer to banning 343 “irrational” fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs that were potentially harmful to consumers. The market size of the banned drugs is estimated to be around Rs 20-22 billion and will impact the country’s top drugmakers.

Patient advocacy groups say more FDCs, worth Rs 200-250 billion, are under scanner. An FDC drug is one that contains two or more active ingredients in a fixed-dosage ratio. 

In March 2016, the ministry of health and family welfare had implemented a ban on 349 FDCs based on recommendations of the Chandrakant Kokate committee that found these drug