The Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), following a directive from the Central Government, has banned the manufacture, sale, and distribution of 156 Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drugs for human use. This prohibition comes on the recommendation of the Expert Committee and Drugs Technical Advisory Board, which determined that these FDCs lack therapeutic justification.
All drug retailers, wholesalers, and healthcare facilities in Goa, including Government hospitals, district and urban health centres, community and primary health centres, Goa Medical College and Hospital, and registered medical practitioners (RMPs), have been notified of the ban. The FDA has urged medical professionals, including doctors and physicians, to ensure these drugs are no longer prescribed in the interest of patient safety.
Retailers and wholesalers are directed to immediately identify, remove, and return the banned drugs to their suppliers, with an update to the FDA. Non-compliance will result in strict penalties under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. A complete list of the prohibited FDCs has been uploaded on the official Goa government website, www.goa.gov.in.
