Punjab Government Recalls Substandard and Adulterated Medicines from Market

LAHORE: The Directorate of Drugs Control Punjab has issued an urgent alert ordering the immediate suspension of sale and use of several medicines that have been declared substandard and adulterated.

In its official statement, the Directorate directed all retailers, wholesalers, and distributors in possession of the affected products to immediately halt sales and distribution. They are also required to report current stock levels and consumption records to their respective area drug inspectors without delay.

The action follows findings by the Drug Testing Laboratories Punjab, which identified the listed medicines as substandard or adulterated. Subsequently, the Provincial Quality Control Board ordered their immediate recall from the market.

Recalled Medicines Include:

Omnivisc 2% (HPMC) Ophthalmic Solution, 5 mL – Batch No: OMV190171 (Expiry: Jan 2028) and Batch No: OMV191171 (Expiry: Dec 2028) – declared substandard due to sterility test failures and misbranding under the Drugs Act, 1976.

• Cetfin 10 mg Film-Coated Tablets – Substandard
• Cenex 10 mg Film-Coated Tablets – Substandard
• Isobaj Injection (10 mL) – Adulterated/substandard
• Neocobal Injection – Adulterated/substandard
• Megadip 5 mg Tablets – Adulterated/substandard
• Kamedex Injection (1 mL) – Adulterated/substandard
• Ascard-75 Enteric-Coated Tablets – Adulterated/substandard

The Directorate emphasized that strict compliance with the recall order is mandatory to protect public health and prevent the distribution of harmful or ineffective medications.