Palamu health centres stop distribution of 38L calcium and vitamin D3 tablets
A Jamshedpur-based pharmaceutical company had supplied over 38 lakh tablets of calcium (500mg) and vitamin D3 (205 IU) to the Palamu district health department for the Medinirai Medical College and Hospital (MMCH), sub-divisional hospitals, community health centres, and sub-health centres located in the district under the
National Health Mission
(NHM). The firm had produced a 'certificate of analysis' issued by the Oxigen Analytical Laboratories, Himachal Pradesh, a govt-approved test house, declaring these two medicines as of "standard quality".However, Palamu civil surgeon Dr Anil Kumar said, "The drug inspector tested samples of these two medicines in Central Drugs Laboratory, Kolkata, and the results 'did not meet the standard quality'.
Instructions were issued to all govt health centres in the district to immediately stop the distribution of these two medicines among the patients.
"The Jamshedpur-based firm, in its letter to the health department, agreed to replace calcium, and vitamin D3 tablets totalling 2,96,400, 2,96,400, and the 2,92,200 of the GTL 1258, 1288, and 1296 batches, respectively, he added.Asked about another 14 batches of these two medicines that did not meet the standard quality, the civil surgeon said, "The pharmaceuticals distribution company is legally bound to replace the tablets of all the 17 batches identified in the test."Dr Kumar said, "The solubility of these two medicines doesn't conform to the set standards. The entire exercise for analysis, quality assurance, and test report of these two medicines was completed in a little over 100 days, beginning January."Asked if any action would be taken against the distribution company, Dr Kumar said, "The matter has been reported to the NHM director and the director of medicine of the state medicine control directorate, Ranchi."
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