Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFAREbe pleased to state :-
(a) whether it is a fact that drugs of different compositions are being sold under the same name in various parts of the country for treating different ailments;
(b) if so, whether Government is aware that this may harm the health of the consumers; and
(c) if so, the steps proposed to be taken to ensure that one brand name is not given to differnt medicines having different composition?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI)
(a) to (c) : Yes. Some cases of drugs of different compositions being sold under the same name in various parts of the country have come to the notice of the Government. The licenses for manufacture of drugs are granted by State Licensing Authorities appointed by the State Governments. The office of Drugs Controller General (India) has, therefore, issued a latter to the Drugs Controllers of all States Union Territories and the manufacturers concerned for withdrawing the drug formulations having same brand name with different compositions. States have also been requested to remain vigilant while granting the licenses for manufacture of drugs and withdraw permission in the cases of same brand names used for different drugs.
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFAREbe pleased to state :-
(a) whether Government has laid down any policy to cut antibiotics overuse drastically or reduce to a certain extent of late;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the standard guidelines prescribed for use of antibiotics;
(e) whether Government is also planning to set up a Task Force in each State to develop and implement strategies in both the public and private sector;
(f) whether NGOs will also be involved in the task force; and
(g) the time-frame fixed for implementation of the policy? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI)
(a) to (d): The Drugs Controller General (India) has proposed to amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 to introduce a separate Schedule HX to include certain antibiotics, anti-T.B. and habit forming drugs to ensure that these drugs are sold on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner only and the prescription is retained by the chemist for a period of one year.
(e) to (g): No. However, Government has constituted a Task Force to assess, review and suggest measures on anti microbial resistance with the following terms of reference:
1. To review the current situation regarding manufacture, use and misuse of antibiotics in the country;
2. To recommend the design for creation of a National Surveillance System for antibiotic resistance.
3. To initiate studies documenting prescription patterns and establish a monitoring system for the same.
4. To enforce and enhance regulatory provisions for use of antibiotics in Human, veterinary and industrial use.
5. To recommend specific interventions/ measures such as rational use of anti-biotics and anti-biotics policies in hospitals which can be implemented as early as possible.
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFAREbe pleased to state :- (a) whether Government is aware about the alarming level of toxins in vegetables and fruits across the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that the pesticides component such as chlordane, endrin, heptachlor, ethyl and parathion are used in growing numbers of vegetables and fruits in India;
(d) whether these pesticides have the potential to cause serious neurological problems, kidney damage, skin diseases, cancer and other such grievous diseases; and
(e) the action taken or being taken by Government to stop the use of such pesticide components?
ANSWER
THE MINSITER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI)
(a) to (c): Under the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation’s central sector scheme, Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National level during April, 2009 to August, 2010, a total of 5683 samples of the vegetables and 2980 samples of fruts were collected from various Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) markets and retail outlets across various parts of the country. Pesticide residues were detected in 606 (10.6%) vegetables and 272 (9.2%) fruits samples, out of which 98 (1.7%) vegetables samples and 22 (0.8%) fruts samples were found to contain residues above their Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) notified Maximum Residue Limits (RMLs) Residues of chlordane, endrin, heptachlor, ethyl and parathion pesticides, have not been detected in the vegetables and fruits samples.
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFAREbe pleased to state :-
(a) whether it is a fact that drugs of different compositions are being sold under the same name in various parts of the country for treating different ailments;
(b) if so, whether Government is aware that this may harm the health of the consumers; and
(c) if so, the steps proposed to be taken to ensure that one brand name is not given to differnt medicines having different composition?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI)
(a) to (c) : Yes. Some cases of drugs of different compositions being sold under the same name in various parts of the country have come to the notice of the Government. The licenses for manufacture of drugs are granted by State Licensing Authorities appointed by the State Governments. The office of Drugs Controller General (India) has, therefore, issued a latter to the Drugs Controllers of all States Union Territories and the manufacturers concerned for withdrawing the drug formulations having same brand name with different compositions. States have also been requested to remain vigilant while granting the licenses for manufacture of drugs and withdraw permission in the cases of same brand names used for different drugs.
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFAREbe pleased to state :-
(a) whether Government has laid down any policy to cut antibiotics overuse drastically or reduce to a certain extent of late;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the standard guidelines prescribed for use of antibiotics;
(e) whether Government is also planning to set up a Task Force in each State to develop and implement strategies in both the public and private sector;
(f) whether NGOs will also be involved in the task force; and
(g) the time-frame fixed for implementation of the policy? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI)
(a) to (d): The Drugs Controller General (India) has proposed to amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 to introduce a separate Schedule HX to include certain antibiotics, anti-T.B. and habit forming drugs to ensure that these drugs are sold on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner only and the prescription is retained by the chemist for a period of one year.
(e) to (g): No. However, Government has constituted a Task Force to assess, review and suggest measures on anti microbial resistance with the following terms of reference:
1. To review the current situation regarding manufacture, use and misuse of antibiotics in the country;
2. To recommend the design for creation of a National Surveillance System for antibiotic resistance.
3. To initiate studies documenting prescription patterns and establish a monitoring system for the same.
4. To enforce and enhance regulatory provisions for use of antibiotics in Human, veterinary and industrial use.
5. To recommend specific interventions/ measures such as rational use of anti-biotics and anti-biotics policies in hospitals which can be implemented as early as possible.
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFAREbe pleased to state :- (a) whether Government is aware about the alarming level of toxins in vegetables and fruits across the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that the pesticides component such as chlordane, endrin, heptachlor, ethyl and parathion are used in growing numbers of vegetables and fruits in India;
(d) whether these pesticides have the potential to cause serious neurological problems, kidney damage, skin diseases, cancer and other such grievous diseases; and
(e) the action taken or being taken by Government to stop the use of such pesticide components?
ANSWER
THE MINSITER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI)
(a) to (c): Under the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation’s central sector scheme, Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National level during April, 2009 to August, 2010, a total of 5683 samples of the vegetables and 2980 samples of fruts were collected from various Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) markets and retail outlets across various parts of the country. Pesticide residues were detected in 606 (10.6%) vegetables and 272 (9.2%) fruits samples, out of which 98 (1.7%) vegetables samples and 22 (0.8%) fruts samples were found to contain residues above their Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) notified Maximum Residue Limits (RMLs) Residues of chlordane, endrin, heptachlor, ethyl and parathion pesticides, have not been detected in the vegetables and fruits samples.
