The Central Government of India has imposed a ban on over 100 Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) medicines, which include several drugs from top pharmaceutical companies. The ban was officially announced by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on August 12, citing serious health risks associated with these combinations.
Among the banned drugs are popular combinations like Aceclofenac 50 mg + Paracetamol 125 mg tablets, Mefenamic Acid + Paracetamol injections, and Cetirizine HCL + Paracetamol + Phenylephrine HCL. These combinations were found to pose significant risks to human health, according to the government's notification. The decision was made based on research and recommendations from the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB).
This move comes after a previous ban in June 2023, where 14 FDC medicines were prohibited. The current ban extends to over 344 FDC combinations that have been in circulation since 2016, with the government emphasizing the lack of scientific data supporting their safety and effectiveness.
The ban is expected to impact the pharmaceutical market significantly, but the government maintains that it is a necessary step to protect public health.
