Hyderabad: Officials of the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) Telangana seized seven different medicines being sold with misleading claims in the last two days, taking the number of such seizures this year to over 60.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has also directed the health ministry to take strict action against misleading advertisements. The PMO has directed the ministry to amend the draft Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954, which seeks to crack down on misleading advertisements, including those promoting Ayush medicines.
Despite being proposed on Feb 3, 2020, the amendment has been stalled for four years. The Act, which applies to all categories of medicines including Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy, prohibits advertisements that claim magical cures or treatments. The proposed amendment extends its scope to 24 additional diseases and disorders, such as skin whitening, height enhancement, premature ageing and sexual performance enhancement drugs.
Among the recent seizures was an Ayurvedic medicine, ‘Neem Churnam,’ which was being marketed with a misleading claim on its label that it treats fever. It was found in a shop in Nagarkurnool. The medicine, manufactured by Arogya Rama Herbals, Shamirpet, made the misleading advertisement in violation of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
Other seizures include a homeopathic medicine, Febral Fever Elixir, which claims to treat fever.
The Ayurvedic medicine, Fever Go Syrup, also claimed to treat fever, while the allopathic medicine, App-up Plus Syrup, claimed to promote growth and weight.
