HC maintains orders to shut down 20 pharmas, ban antibiotics of 14 more

The High Court yesterday upheld its earlier order that directed the government to stop the production of 20 pharmaceutical companies for producing substandard drugs.

It also directed the government to take necessary step so that 14 other pharmaceutical companies cannot produce antibiotics, as those were also below par.

Delivering the verdict on a writ petition, the HC asked the director general of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) to monitor the activities of drug companies, see that the orders are implemented, and report to the court every three months.

The HC also formed a five-member committee to examine the products of three drug companies that have been banned from producing drugs yesterday but claim to have received Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) recommendation from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Ad Din Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Avert Pharma Ltd and MST Pharmaceuticals Ltd are the three companies.

The committee is comprised of a representative each from the WHO, the health ministry, department of pharmacy of Dhaka University, the DGDA, and an expert committee formed earlier by parliament.