Tamil Nadu: 132 companies booked for selling substandard drugs, hand-rubs

CHENNAI: The state drug control department has booked 132 private companies for producing and selling substandard drugs and hand sanitizers during the pandemic.
The booked firms were found using high levels of toxic methanol while preparing sanitizers.

Methanol, a cheaper alternative to isopropanol (or isopropyl alcohol) or ethanol (ethyl alcohol), can be injurious to eyes, respiratory organs, skin and permanent damage if exposed for a longer duration.
A senior drug department official requesting anonymity said that in most cases, adulteration happens before the manufacturing stage. “Dealers who supply raw material to manufacturers mix methanol with other material. Manufacturers are supposed to check this before production, but sometimes their test results might not be accurate. So our team of 146 drug inspectors and others collect samples to confirm standards,” he said.
In the past one year, samples were collected from around 300 places including retail pharmacy stores, wholesalers, distribution points, storage godowns and manufacturing units. A lab analysis showed 82 sanitizers did not meet prescribed standards —adulterated content (32), spurious (2) and substandard (48) sanitizers. Some pharmacies were found selling anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain killers), antibiotics and medicines used for blood pressure and cardiac disease treatment without prescription or pharmacist supervision. Drug inspectors have launched prosecution against the 132 companies under various sections of the Indian Drug Control Act, 1940. If convicted, the owners can be imprisoned for 1-3 years and fined Rs 20,000-Rs 50,000.
A Mohanakrishnan, professor and head of organic chemistry at University of Madras, said methanol can’t be used as a disinfectant as it produces formic acid that releases poisonous carbon monoxide after oxidation.