MFDA warns public on quality concern regarding 16 medications flagged by India's drug regulator

Access to safe and effective medications is a fundamental pillar of healthcare, and the quality of the medicines we consume plays a crucial role in ensuring positive health outcomes. While this is not a factor that we often tend to take into consideration, the quality of the medicine we consume can significantly impact the effectiveness of our treatment and overall health. Most of us trust that the medications we are prescribed or purchase are safe, but the reality is that not all medicines are created equal. Substandard or counterfeit drugs may contain harmful substances, incorrect dosages, or lack the active ingredients necessary for proper treatment. This can result in prolonged illnesses, resistance to treatment, or even serious health risks.

Although most of us do not double-check the manufacturers or the authenticity of medicine, especially the over-the-counter medication that we have become familiar with, recent cases of bad-quality medicine being available in pharmacies in the Maldives have come to prove the importance of verifying the authenticity and safety of what we put into our bodies.

This concern has recently been highlighted by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), which issued a public advisory in response to a quality alert from India's main drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). This advisory comes after the CDSO flagged 16 medications suspected to have potential quality issues. Although MFDA has assured that none of the 16 flagged medications have been imported into the Maldives through any official channels, the authority has advised the public to remain cautious. In addition to the possibility of these medicines being available in the Maldives, the MFDA issues this caution due to India's popularity as a health tourism destination for Maldivians. This makes it crucial for patients to be aware of potential quality concerns when seeking medical treatments abroad.

The 16 flagged medicines according to CDSCO include: