Shanta Kumar flags quality failures in Himachal-made drugs, seeks accountability

Ashok Raina Palampur, Sep 23 (UNI) Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar on Wednesday expressed concern over reports of substandard medicines being manufactured in the state, saying repeated quality failures could damage the pharmaceutical industry's reputation and pose risks to patients. The former union minister said Himachal Pradesh was fortunate to have major pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs in Baddi, Nalagarh, Barotiwala, Paonta Sahib, Kala Amb, Solan, Kangra and Una, generating employment for thousands and producing medicines worth crores of rupees. However, he said reports of medicines failing quality tests were a matter of serious concern. According to him, 220 medicines…