Centre in no hurry to act on harmful painkiller

NEW DELHI: The government seems to be in no hurry to discontinue the use of popular painkiller Rofecoxib in India, although scientists worldwide are questioning its safety.
The authoritative medical journal Lancet has revealed in its latest issue that an earlier trial had shown an increase in the number of heart attacks in patients on the drug. Health regulators then had only advised making labelling changes.
Pharma company Merck withdrew the drug, commonly known as Vioxx in the US, following damning evidence that it can cause heart attacks and strokes.
In India, the drug sells under popular brand names like Rofib, Roff, Rofibax, Rofiz and Toroxx. It is prescribed usually for acute pain associated with arthritis and menstruation.
Director-general of health services S P Aggarwal said: "We are getting it studied here. There have been no stroke cases here."
As a justification for continuing its use, pharmaceutical companies say Merck has withdrawn the drug voluntarily and that there has been no US government ban.
Ranbaxy, for instance, says that it would be advising physicians to prescribe its drug, Rofibax, only for short-term usage.