The Department of Drug Administration has recently issued a directive to stop the production, sales, distribution and import of at least 16 drugs until further notice, saying that they do not meet the minimum standard.

“Our tests discovered that at least 16 drugs were of sub-standard quality,” Narayan Prasad Dhakal, director general of the Department of Drug Administration, told the Post.

Nepali medicines such as Povine (seven batches) of Curex Pharmaceuticals, Lotemp (three batches) of Ohm Pharmaceuticals, Monamol of Manoj Pharmaceuticals, Polar of Chemidrug Industries and Megafol of Sumy Pharmaceuticals have been listed by the drug administration as sub-standard.

Indian drugs such as Zylo-P of Leben Laboratories, Reldine of Real Hygiene and Kelvin of Leben Laboratories are also included on the list.

The listed medicines are prescribed to prevent and treat minor wounds and skin infections, or to temporarily relieve fever and pain.

The 10 batches of Povine and Lotemp combined were bought by the Ministry of Health and Population.

After receiving information from the DDA, the ministry has directed all seven provincial health directorates to discontinue the sale of these medicines.

The ministry has also forwarded the directive to the Department of Health Services, Central Medical Store and the health offices in all 77 districts.

“Further investigation is underway. If other issues are found, action such as recalling the medicines will be taken,” said Dhakal.

Along with banning the sale, distribution and import of these 16 drugs, the administration has also recalled Mupir ointment of Arya Pharmalab Pvt Ltd, Nepal, citing non-compliance with the United States Pharmacopeia guidelines.

The drug administration has also recalled Fexolar 180 of Everest Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd after it failed the dissolution test.

Last year, the drug administration had recalled 19 medicines. Of them, 13 medicines were manufactured and imported from India while six of them were manufactured in Nepal.

“We run medicine tests regularly to ensure their quality. If they do not meet the set standard, they are discontinued and recalled, ” Dhakal said.