In a major blow to pharmaceutical companies, the Indian government on Thursday banned fixed dose combinations (FDCs) of 156 drugs with immediate effect. These include antibiotics, painkillers, multivitamins and medicines for fever and high blood pressure.
These drugs have been banned as they are harmful to health. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a gazette notification banning the manufacture and sale of these drugs. The decision was taken following the recommendations of the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and a committee of experts appointed by the central government. A gazette notification of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that a committee of experts appointed by the Central Government and the Drug Technical Advisory Board had examined the matter. Both recommended that the contents of these FDCs have no medical justification.
This also includes medications
Some special medicines are included in the FDC list. It includes a combination of mefenamic acid and paracetamol injection. It is used to reduce pain and inflammation. It also includes omeprazole magnesium and dicyclomine HCL. This combination is used to treat stomach pain. DTAB found the claims of these medicines to be false. They believe that these medicines do more harm than benefit to the patients.