Seeing around 25000 crore pharmaceutical industry of Himachal Pradesh facing credibility crisis due to the production of sub standard drugs, state government has finally started acting against the drug manufacturing units by suspending their licenses. Recently the licences of seven companies were suspended after drugs manufactured by them failed the test. Considering the fact 600 pharmaceutical industries located in Himachal Pradesh caters to around 50% demand of country, over the years Himachal Pradesh has become the largest suppliers of drugs and almost all the states in India are getting supplies from Himachal.

But in recent past, quality of drugs manufactured in the hill state have come under the scanner after states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and others returned the supplies for their being sub standard. While the state government has allowed hundreds of pharmaceutical units in the state but it has not been able to ensure required manpower in the state drug controlling authority to check the quality which is resulting into frequent complaints from other states regarding the poor quality of drugs supplied to them, sources said.

State health minister Dr Rajeev Bindal said that whenever complaints about the quality of drugs manufactured in the states are received, license of concerned company is immediately suspended.

Via/TOI