Apex Board Postpones Call to Ban Cocktail Multi-Vitamin & Multi-Mineral Medicines, Seeks Latest Info

The apex board under the Drug Controller General of India has decided to postpone the decision on banning cocktails of multi-vitamin and multi-mineral medicines, News18.com has learnt. The Drugs Technical Advisory Board, which met on September 26 to take the final call on fixed-dose-combination medicines, has agreed to ban the selected 14 FDCs, including several codeine-based cough syrups such as Tossex, Ascoril C and Phensydyl T. However, the board postponed the decision on the evaluation of the report on fixed-dose combinations related to vitamins and minerals-based formulations which were considered irrational by the professor Kokate committee and where the show-cause notices were issued to the manufacturers for submitting replies to prove rationality. According to the minutes of the meeting of DTAB, accessed by News18.com, it was apprised that “Prof Kokate Committee has submitted its report to the government from time to time and the last such report was submitted related to vitamins, minerals and micronutrient formulations along with other remaining FDCs”. “The board deliberated on the report of the committee and opined that the Prof Kokate Committee may be requested to apprise the board about the report for further course of action.” What are FDCs?