CDSCO Flags 145 Drugs as Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) in January 2025

The Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has identified 145 non-standard quality (NSQ) drugs and formulations for January 2025. These drugs include treatments for high blood pressure, allergies and nausea. NSQ medicines fail to meet the quality standards set by national and international authorities.

Drugs affected by the NSQ label

Of the 145 drugs, 52 were identified by central drug laboratories, while the remaining 93 were flagged by state drug testing labs. Some well-known drugs are on the list, including Glenmark Pharma's high blood pressure drug Telma AM, and Alchem Health Sciences' Ondium-4. Includes tablets, which are used to prevent nausea and vomiting.
The health ministry clarified that the NSQ issue only pertains to specific batches tested by government laboratories. This does not mean that all products from these companies are affected. So, there is no need to worry about other batches or medicines available in the market.

Types of drugs affected

The NSQ list includes fixed-dose combination (FDC) medicines, such as cough syrups, antibiotics, and medicines for bacterial infections such as tonsillitis, ear infections, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Other FDC drugs include montelukast sodium and levocetirizine hydrochloride tablets, which are commonly prescribed for allergies. These types of drugs are essential for treating a wide variety of conditions, making NSQ batch identification an important concern.

Areas and labs involved in the investigation

CDSCO discovers most of the NSQ drugs through central laboratories. Many of the affected drugs came from manufacturing units located in cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Haridwar. These locations are spread across different states, indicating a widespread problem in drug quality control.
The alert also notes a positive change. For the first time in months, CDSCO has not listed any drug as fake for two consecutive months. It shows improvements in drug quality monitoring and reporting.

Government efforts to improve the quality of medicines

The Ministry of Health also highlighted that the January alert showed increased state participation in NSQ drug identification and reporting. This increased involvement of states will help improve the availability of safe and high-quality medicines in India and beyond.

The CDSCO's ongoing monitoring aims to ensure that drugs on the market meet the required standards while ensuring safety for all consumers.