Srinagar, June 28: Six drug samples collected from Kashmir have been declared “Not of Standard Quality” (NSQ) in the latest monthly drug quality surveillance report issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), according to a report published by Greater Kashmir.
The report states that while the detection of NSQ drugs is a routine part of the country’s drug quality monitoring mechanism, the absence of updated public information on drug sampling and testing by the Jammu and Kashmir Drugs and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) has raised concerns over transparency and regulatory oversight in the Union Territory.
The latest CDSCO alert, covering May 2026, lists 111 drug batches from across the country that failed quality tests conducted by central and state laboratories. Among them are six drug samples lifted from Kashmir and tested at the Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL), Dalgate. The affected medicines include aceclofenac-based combinations, telmisartan formulations and other commonly prescribed drugs.
According to the report, the concern extends beyond the six NSQ samples. A review of the official DFCO website reportedly shows that the last publicly available updates on drug sampling and testing date back to March 2026. Since then, no monthly surveillance reports, sample testing data, enforcement actions or quality monitoring summaries have been uploaded.
The absence of updated disclosures has created uncertainty over the current status of drug surveillance in Jammu and Kashmir, including the number of samples being collected, the results of quality testing and any action taken against manufacturers, distributors or retailers found violating quality standards.
Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, drug samples are routinely collected from pharmacies, hospitals and distribution networks for laboratory testing to detect medicines that are substandard, misbranded or spurious. The CDSCO publishes monthly NSQ alerts to inform regulators, healthcare institutions and the public about batches that fail prescribed quality standards.
The report also notes that the Union Health Ministry informed Parliament earlier this year that nearly five lakh drug samples have been tested across the country over the past five years. While the identification of NSQ drugs reflects the functioning of surveillance systems, the report says regular public disclosure of testing data is equally important to maintain transparency and public confidence.
The report further points out that the J&K Drugs and Food Control Organisation has historically maintained public updates on drugs tested and enforcement measures. In recent years, the department has carried out extensive surveillance of medicines supplied to government hospitals as well as those available through private pharmacies, with several NSQ batches identified, recalled and removed from circulation to safeguard public health.
However, the lack of updated information in recent months has created an information vacuum regarding the ongoing status of drug quality monitoring in the Union Territory.
