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West Bengal Bans 137 Substandard Medicines in Latest Crackdown

The state intensifies efforts to combat fake drugs with new bans, retailer guidelines, and public awareness measures.

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Overview

  • The West Bengal Department of Health and Family Welfare has banned 137 medicines identified as substandard, following a nationwide CDSCO report listing 196 inferior drugs.
  • Drug wholesalers and retailers are now required to verify licenses, GST numbers, and QR codes to ensure the authenticity of medicines purchased.
  • Recent raids uncovered large quantities of fake drugs in locations such as North 24 Parganas and Malda, with connections traced to suppliers in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
  • The government has launched a public awareness campaign, publishing lists of banned medicines and urging pharmacies to display these prominently.
  • A hotline has been established for citizens to report suspected fake medicines, as the state continues its investigation into the sources of substandard drugs.