Arogya Sahayya Samiti appeals to Food and Drugs Controller

Repeating the demand for stringent action against industries that pack medicines in a manner harmful for health

Panaji (Goa) – Arogya Sahayya Samiti has repeated its demand for stringent action against industries that pack medicines in a manner harmful for health. It has submitted an appeal to the Controller of Food and Drugs Mrs. Jyoti Sardesai.

The appeal says that because of air in ointment tubes, effectiveness of the medicine reduces. Besides, due to the air, the ointment tube is only partially filled, it weighs less than the specified weight. Both these aspects lead to physical as well as financial loss for the patient.

It is important to find the effect of air in the tubes or tins in which the respective medicines are packed. Ointments in collapsible tubes should be checked and stringent action should be taken against people if found guilty.

After this demand, the Controller of Food and Drugs, Goa sent letters to the Controller of Food and Drugs in different States. The associated officers of various States reported their investigations to the Controller of Food and Drugs, Goa. They in turn gave copies of the reports to Arogya Sahayya Samiti.

Upon studying the details of these reports it appears that the States have not bothered to go into the details of the complaint; instead, they have made some superficial observations. They have not given any assurance about punishing the culprits either.

The Sikkim Controller of Food and Drugs has agreed that the size of tubes is larger than the quantity required to be filled. The officer at Nashik has sent a reply even when no sample was available. The officer at Chennai seems to be unaware of the existing rules to punish culprits. Seeing such replies, it appears that the associated administrations are not serious about punishing the culprits.

In its first complaint itself, the Arogya Sahayya Samiti had given to the Controller of Food and Drugs, Goa some medicine samples that were packed in a harmful manner; however, the administration has failed to act on the issue.