Union Health Minister Nadda Assures Robust Vigilance on Exported Medicines

During the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, raised concern over the reports of substandard drugs exported to foreign countries.

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda assured the Lok Sabha on Friday of the Central government's stringent monitoring of drugs and medicines exported from India. Responding to concerns from Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi about reports of substandard Indian medicines abroad, Nadda emphasised the implementation of a comprehensive surveillance system.

"We are keeping a constant vigil on such drugs and medicines exported abroad. Before the medicines are exported, they go through proper scrutiny. And after reaching their destination, again the medicines go through proper testing," Nadda stated. This dual-layer inspection ensures the safety and quality of Indian pharmaceuticals in international markets.

Gogoi, the deputy leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, raised the issue citing instances where substandard Indian-made cough syrup was linked to child fatalities in Gambia, Cameroon and Uzbekistan. Acknowledging these incidents, Nadda reassured that the government has put in place strict measures to prevent recurrence.

"We are following a robust system of examining medicines. First, the exported medicines get surveyed domestically. The exported medicines again go through random checking after they reach the destination," Nadda explained. He stressed that the government had taken stern actions in response to past incidents to tighten quality control.

Nadda's assurance aims to restore confidence in Indian medicines and underscores India's commitment to stringent quality assurance. By maintaining high standards in pharmaceutical exports, the government seeks to safeguard public health globally and reassure international partners of the reliability of Indian pharmaceuticals.