Bhagwant Mann: As part of its commitment to protect the health of residents, the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has enacted a ban on 112 medicines that were deemed harmful to the public. The action signals a strong commitment to protecting consumers and regulating the pharmaceutical industry in the province.
According to officials, the medicines were determined to be unsafe by the State Drug Control Department after failed quality testing. Some products were reported to contain impurities, were incorrectly formulated, or had substandard ingredients that could put the safety of consumers in jeopardy.
A Step Towards Safety and Transparency of the Public
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann affirmed that the government’s top priority was ensuring the safety of all drugs and medicines supplied in the Punjab regionally, nationally, and internationally.
“No person will be permitted to place the health of our people at risk” Mann stated.
The Chief Minister said that random inspections and surveillance designed to monitor health-related factors would continue.
The Punjab Health Department has also ordered that all medical forgets, distributors, and hospitals in the province immediately discontinue all sales of the medicine listed. Failure to comply with the order from the Punjab Health Department will result in the cancellation of licenses and prosecutions.
Crackdown on Counterfeit and Low-Quality Drugs
The list of banned medicines is reportedly made up of antibiotics, pain medications, and cold medications produced by several small and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies. It was found that these medications sometimes had fewer active ingredients or utilised harmful substitutes, which could result in them being rendered ineffective and even dangerous.
To hold manufacturers accountable, the government ordered state drug inspectors to write compliance status reports and begin criminal proceedings against those who violate the law under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
Public Awareness and Responsible Health Care
Health experts support this action, calling it an important step to restoring public confidence in medical supplies.
“At the same time, residents are encouraged to verify any medicines before they buy them. If they suspect a medicine to be spurious, they must call Punjab Health Helpline; ‘it is free of cost.'”
The state is also planning to test a digital tracking system for batches of medicine that the government says will facilitate real-time monitoring and sales data of the medications being manufactured and sold.
A Model for Other States
Bhagwant Mann’s AAP government has taken the lead in banning unsafe medicines and making drug regulation more transparent for other states to follow. This courageous step does more than protect the public; it reinforces Punjab’s reputation as a state willing to act responsibly and reform.
In tandem with strong regulation, responsible governance, and open communication with the public, Punjab’s health safety system is developing into one of India’s strongest.
