In a written reply to a question raised by BJP MLA Amit Satam and others, Food and Drug Administration Minister Narahari Zirwal said that as part of a special FDA campaign, samples of cough syrup and other medicines were sent for testing and analysis
Minister Narahari Zirwal said fake cough syrups were detected in drug stores and companies during the FDA drive in October 2024. Representational pic
The licences of 176 retailers and 39 wholesalers have been cancelled across Maharashtra over the sale of substandard medicines, Food and Drug Administration Minister Narahari Zirwal informed the state assembly on Wednesday.
In a written reply to a question raised by BJP MLA Amit Satam and others, Zirwal said that as part of a special FDA campaign, samples of cough syrup and other medicines were sent for testing and analysis, news agency PTI reported.
"Licences of 176 retailers and 39 wholesalers were cancelled. Further, 136 retailers and 93 wholesalers were inspected. Show-cause notices were issued, and licences were cancelled for selling substandard cough syrups," he said.
Zirwal said fake cough syrups were detected in drug stores and companies during the FDA drive in October 2024. Doctors, clinical establishments, and pharmacists were instructed not to prescribe or sell medicines containing propranolol, he added, according to PTI.
He said 36 samples were tested across Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Aurangabad, and Nagpur divisions, out of which 34 were found substandard. The medicines included treatments for hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, heart disease, and blood purification, reported PTI. Six samples of a paediatric cough syrup brand were also found to be of inferior quality.
"Some components were altered or combined, and medicines were sold under new names. Fake and substandard medicines were even supplied to government hospitals by unauthorised companies," Zirwal said.
The minister added that drug testing and control work in several districts had been affected as 176 posts of drug inspectors were vacant. Maharashtra has three testing laboratories in Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune, and efforts are underway to upgrade labs in Nashik and Pune. 109 posts of drug inspectors will be filled through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission, Zirwal said.
Approval of registered housing societies must to operate liquor shops on their premises: Ajit Pawar
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also heads the excise department, announced a new policy regarding liquor shops in the state. Shops selling Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and country liquor will now require mandatory consent from registered housing societies before operating from commercial spaces on their premises.
"Permission from registered housing societies will now be compulsory for both categories of liquor shops. The policy must be enforced uniformly throughout Maharashtra," Pawar told the Lower House while responding to a question raised by BJP MLA Shankar Jagtap from Chinchwad assembly constituency in Pune.
Jagtap had raised concerns over liquor shops in the Chinchwad-Kalewadi area, citing Vikrant Wine, which allegedly started operations in violation of norms. "The building was incomplete when permission was granted, and the licence was issued on the basis of incomplete documents," he said, demanding action.
Pawar reiterated the mandatory requirement of housing society consent for liquor vends and informed the House about the action taken against the two shops reported earlier. During the Budget session in March, he had announced that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from housing societies would be mandatory for liquor shops wishing to operate from commercial premises within residential complexes.
(With PTI inputs)
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