Over 80 drugs fail quality tests in 2024

• Half of drugs failing quality tests from India  

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

A total of 82 drugs have failed quality tests so far in 2024, according to the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry.  

Of the drugs that have failed quality tests, about 39 were manufactured in India, while 12 drugs were locally produced and the others had originated from countries like China, Kenya, Pakistan, Japan and Bangladesh etc.  

Among the drugs identified as having failed the quality tests, some have been withdrawn, withheld or discontinued.  

According to the Health Ministry, there have been a total of 600 cases of quality failures since 2017. The highest number of such cases numbering 96 were reported in 2019, while 86 drugs had failed quality tests in 2022.  

The quality issues in drugs made headlines with several complications and deaths being reported in 2023.