Alert regarding medicines across country: 112 samples failed in CDSCO test, 11 from Punjab

October 25, 2025

The September report of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has once again raised concerns about the safety of medicines. According to the report, 112 drug samples across the country failed quality standards. These included three cough medicines, one of which was found to be counterfeit. These medicines are used to treat serious diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, infections, pain, swelling, anaemia and epilepsy.

11 drug samples from Punjab fail

According to the report released in September 2025, 52 drugs and 60 drugs failed to meet central and state-level standards in central and state-level laboratories across the country. According to the report, a total of 112 drug samples failed quality tests, including 11 made in Punjab.

The maximum number of medicines, 49, were from Himachal Pradesh, 16 from Gujarat, 12 from Uttarakhand, 11 from Punjab and 6 from Madhya Pradesh, among other states. Most shockingly, samples of three cough syrups also failed, one of which was found to be fake. Just a few days ago, the Punjab government had banned the use of eight medicines, including Coldrif cough medicine.

Process of removing medicines from the market accelerated

Now, after the CDSCO report, the process of removing batches containing these medicines from the market has been accelerated. All medical stores, doctors and hospitals have been ordered to immediately stock these medicines and provide safe alternatives to patients.