Hyderabad: Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha reviewed the functioning of the Drug Control Authority (DCA) and ordered strict action against pharmaceutical firms breaking rules.
DCA Director General Shanawaz Qasim briefed him on inspections and enforcement. He said officials carried out 25,939 inspections in 2024 and took action against 4,142 companies. From January to July 2025, they inspected 16,481 units and proceeded against 2,827 firms.
Between January 2024 and July 2025, the authority tested 7,200 drug samples. Of these, 186 failed quality standards. Officials booked nearly 700 criminal cases, and trials are underway against the firms involved.
Minister orders strict enforcement
The minister told officials to ensure convictions in every case. He directed them to act against false ads promoting fake medicines. He warned manufacturers, distributors and retailers that those selling poor-quality or spurious drugs would face severe punishment. “Repeat offenders should be shut down permanently,” he said.
He asked the DCA to invoke the Preventive Detention Act if needed against illegal drug manufacturers. He also ordered action against firms misusing food labels to market medicines. Stressing the threat of antibiotic resistance, he directed enforcement against unauthorized sales of antibiotics and narcotics without prescriptions.
Strengthening drug regulation
Raja Narasimha instructed officials to speed up the upgrade of drug testing labs. He announced that new posts for drug inspectors would be created soon and recruitment taken up. He said the government is committed to providing people with safe food and quality medicines.
