The Indian government is considering an additional ban on thirty-four multivitamins following its recent prohibition of 156 drugs. The potential ban is part of a broader regulatory update that prevents states from approving new drug combinations. The drugs under review are being scrutinized for their safety and effectiveness.
The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) has supported the initiative. Sudarshan Jain, IPA’s Secretary General, commented that the move aligns with extensive evaluations by committees such as the Kokate and Nilima Kshirsagar Committees. He emphasized that this decision is a positive step for patient safety.
The banned drugs include various fixed-dose combination (FDC) medications used for hair treatments, antiparasitic therapies, skincare, and anti-allergic purposes. These FDCs, which combine multiple drugs into a single tablet, have been deemed irrational by an expert committee appointed by the central government. The drugs technical advisory board also reviewed these combinations and found no therapeutic justification for their components, suggesting potential risks to health.
Among the specific combinations now prohibited are FDCs containing Amylase, Protease, Glucoamylase, Pectinase, Alpha Galactosidase, Lactase, Beta-Gluconase, Cellulase, Lipase, Bromelain, Xylanase, Hemicellulase, Malt diastase, Invertase, and Papain, as well as Mefenamic Acid and Paracetamol Injection. As reported by theprint.in, the combination of ergotamine tartrate, caffeine, paracetamol, and prochlorperazine maleate has also been banned with immediate effect.