Banned drug still being sold in market

Despite ban imposed by the government, the dangerous drugs containing metamizole like Novalgin are still being sold in the market. The Network for Consumer Protection, which has been campaigning against the dangerous drug for the last several years, has put a serious question mark on the capability of the governance infrastructure to implement the pro-people decisions.
The network alleged that powerful pharmaceutical industry seemingly in connivance with officials is trying to make the ban ineffective to protect their commercial interests on the costs of the health of thousands of patients.
The Drug Registration Board (DRB), a statutory body formed under the Drugs Act of 1976, in its 196th meeting on February 23, had banned metamizole, a fever and pain medicine commonly known by its brand name 'Novalgin' due to its injurious side effects on human health.
The metamizole, manufactured by a multinational company has been banned in several developed countries including USA, UK, Norway, Singapore, Australia and Sweden since long. Despite de-registration of the drug, the government has not withdrawn the stock from the market.
Although the decision put a complete ban on import, manufacture or sale of all metamizole containing products in the country with immediate effect, the drug is available unhindered all over the country.
According to Drug Act 1976, the provincial governments are responsible to take immediate action to implement the ban effectively while the Drugs (Licensing, Registering & Advertising) Rules 1976 clearly mention that, if a drug at any time, for safety reasons is withdrawn or banned then it shall be the responsibility of the manufacturer to immediately withdraw the drug from the market within 14 days from the date of announcement.
Sources say that there are at least 41 brands of the drug available in the country, manufactured and sold by some 24 national and multinational companies and the industry is trying its hard to help ban go useless.
It may be mentioned that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has placed metamizole in the consolidated list of products whose consumption and sale have been withdrawn, banned and severely restricted or not approved by most of the countries.