Sub-standard quality drug found at Delhi hospital, was used to treat epilepsy

Delhi: Amid the ongoing row over substandard quality drugs being supplied in Delhi hospitals, another drug has failed the quality standard tests, reports said on Wednesday, December 27. This comes days after Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena referred a matter pertaining to drugs failing quality standard tests to CBI.  As per Raj Niwas, the latest drug found to be of substandard quality was being used to treat seizures and epilepsy. 

Delhi LG Saxena had last week recommended a CBI inquiry into the alleged supply of drugs that "failed quality standard tests" and have the "potential of endangering lives." According to officials, another drug sample taken from Delhi government hospitals was failed by the RDTL, or Regional Drug Testing Laboratory, in Chandigarh.

This time an anti-epilepsy drug called 'Sodium Valproate' was found to be falling short of the standards. The report was issued by a government analyst on December 22, an official said.

List of drugs found to be substandard 

The drugs that have been found to be of "sub-standard quality" included Cephalexin, a critical life-saving antibiotic used for the treatment of lung and urinary tract infections. Other drugs found to be substandard include Dexamethasone, a steroid used for curing life-threatening inflammation in lungs, joints, and swelling in the body, anti-epilepsy and anti-anxiety psychiatric drug Levetiracetam, and anti-hypertension drug Amlodipine.