PPA under govt scanner

NEW DELHI: The health ministry is "evaluating" the use of phenylpropanolamine (PPA) as a decongestant in popular cough and cold medicines. Experts have warned against the use of medicines containing PPA as it can lead to stroke and safer alternatives are available.
Union family welfare and health secretary P K Hota told The Times of India, "We have been alerted.We are technically evaluating it." While drug manufacturers promptly react to signals of withdrawal of potentially hazardous drugs in the developed countries, to get them to do the same in India has been an uphill task, both for the government and consumer activists.
The availability of popular cold medicines containing PPA is only one of the several examples of hazardous drugs. Leading activist on drugs, Mira Shiva, points out the case of high dose estrogen-progesteron drugs, which had been banned in several countries as they led to fetal malformations.
The drug was eventually banned following a campaign by consumers and health and women''s groups who were part of the All India Drug Action Network, facilitated by the Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI). But the manufacturers challenged the ban in court. It took SC''s intervention, four regional public hearings and sustained effort before the drug was withdrawn. Even then, the manufacturers exploited a legal loophole to sell injectables of the same preparation, adds Shiva.
The most recent case was that of a painkiller sold as Vioxx in the US, but commonly marketed here under names such as Rofecoxib, among others. The drug was recalled by the companies from the developed countries following increased heart attacks in patients. However, no alert was issued here.