Faulty medicines worth Rs 24 lakh recalled in statewide crackdown across Karnataka: Report
Bengaluru: In a crackdown on poor-quality pharmaceuticals, Karnataka's Drug Administration Department has recalled faulty medicines worth Rs 24.3 lakh from the market. This follows a inspection and testing drive carried out in February and March across the state, aimed at safeguarding public health.
According to a report by the Times of India, drug inspectors collected thousands of medicine samples from pharmacies across Karnataka and sent them to government labs in Bengaluru, Hubballi, and Ballari for analysis. In March alone, 1,891 samples were tested, and 41 failed to meet quality standards.
The crackdown followed a series of maternal deaths reported at Ballari District Hospital raised alarms about the safety of drugs administered during C-section procedures. Investigations revealed that several batches of Ringer lactate IV fluids—commonly used during surgeries—were potentially linked to the fatalities. Out of 196 batches tested, 113 were found to be substandard, prompting legal action against 78 manufacturers, added the report.
Additionally, the drug control officers also inspected 2,078 medical shops across Karnataka, leading to the suspension of 215 drug licences due to various violations.
The drugs that most commonly failed quality tests include formulations of paracetamol, sodium chloride injections, levocetirizine, azithromycin, metformin, vitamin D3, and iron-folic acid supplements.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao emphasised that public safety remains a top priority. “We have taken legal action against those responsible and recalled all 41 drugs that failed the quality tests,” he said.
The minister also highlighted the need for a more robust tracking system to monitor the movement of drugs in the market. "I have always stressed the need for a system that flags poor-quality drugs so they can be removed completely from the market," TOI quoted Rao as saying.
He added a new system will be rolled out shortly which will store details of retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, and their authorised agents. "This will help us trace and eliminate substandard drugs at every stage more efficiently," Rao added.
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India destroys air defence system in Lahore; foils Pakistan's attempts to target 15 Indian cities
New Delhi, May 8 (PTI): India on Thursday said it foiled Pakistan military's attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and western parts of the country using missiles and drones as tensions between the two neighbours mounted amid fears of a wider conflict.
Sources in the defence and security establishment said the S-400 missile defence systems, surface-to-air missiles and the integrated counter unmanned aircraft system were used in thwarting the Pakistani attempts.
In its response this morning, India launched kamikaze drones and destroyed a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore.
The defence ministry said the Pakistani military attempted last night to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.
The Indian armed forces targeted air defence radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan and "neutralised" an air defence system in Lahore, it said.
The Pakistani attempt came after Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.
"On the night of May 7-8, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in northern and western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles," the ministry said.
"These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) grid and air defence systems," it said in a statement.
"The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks," it added.
It said "Indian armed forces this morning targeted air defence radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan."
"Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an air defence system at Lahore has been neutralised," the ministry said.
As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said no limit will become an obstacle to protect India's sovereignty and the nation is fully prepared for such responses.
He said India has always played the role of a responsible nation exercising great restraint and it believes in resolving issues through dialogue.
"However, if anyone tries to take advantage of this restraint, they will face quality action," he said, assuring the nation that no limit will become an obstacle to protect India's sovereignty.
"We are fully prepared for such responsible responses in the future as well," he said.
The defence ministry said India's anti-terror response on early Wednesday was "focused, measured and non-escalatory" and that Pakistani military establishments had not been targeted.
"It was also reiterated that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response," the ministry said.
It said Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control using mortars and heavy calibre artillery in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Sixteen innocent lives have been lost, including three women and five children, due to Pakistani firing," the ministry said.
Here too, India was compelled to respond to bring mortar and artillery fire from Pakistan to a halt, it said.
"Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military," the ministry said.
In retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian armed forces carried out the missile strikes on the terror targets including Bahawalpur, a stronghold of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Wednesday that India decided to carry out the "proportionate" strikes to bring the perpetrators and planners of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack to justice as there was "no demonstrable step" from Pakistan to act against terrorist infrastructure on territories under its control.
