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.