Shimla: Following the lead of Centre Government that recently banned manufacturing and sale of around 6,000 brands of medicine, Himachal Pradesh Government has on Saturday announced a ban on over 300 fix-dose combinations.

This list included several popular painkillers, creams, antibiotics, antidiabetic drugs which would be no longer available in the market. Some of them are Saridon, an analgesic; Panderm cream, an ointment; Taxim AZ, an antibiotic; Corex cough syrup and D-cold.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health, and Family Welfare B.K. Agarwal said on Saturday informed that State Government has prohibited 328 fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) for manufacture for sale, sale or distribution for human use with immediate effect in Himachal Pradesh under section 26A of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

The decision has been made based on recommendations of Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) as there was no therapeutic justification for the ingredients contained in these 328 FDCs or and these FDCs could involve risk to a human being.

He said that the Government of India has also restricted manufacturing, sale or distribution of the drug fixed-dose combinations from September 7, 2018.

B.K.Agarwal said that product permissions granted to manufacturers and its loan licensees to manufacture fixed dose combinations of 328 also stands prohibited.

He said that manufacture for sale, sale or distribution of fixed-dose combinations henceforth would attract section 28B of Drugs and Cosmetics Act. He said that these formulations must be withdrawn from the market immediately. The action would be taken as per the provisions of the against the persons not adhering to these orders.

Agarwal said that the notification has been circulated to the HP Drug Manufacturing Associations, HP Society of Chemists and Druggists and all the Drugs Controllers and the Drugs Inspectors in the state.

Complete List of fixed-dose combinations banned by Indian Governmenment 

Shimla: Hem Lata, the wife of Kedar Singh Jindan – an RTI activist, social worker, and an SC/ST leader who was beaten and then run over by an SUV in Shillai region of Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh – today spoke at a press conference held at the Press Club Shimla. She expressed complete distrust in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Himachal Pradesh Police and demanded a CBI probe.

She said district police of Sirmaur has hushed up several cases earlier too. She also alleged that a gang of 35-40 people was involved in the brutal murder of her husband on September 7, 2018. It has come as another shocker for the State police, which is still struggling to recover from the damage the SIT had done in Kotkhai’s Gudia case and forest guard Hoshiyar Singh.  

The SIT has so far arrested three persons including the up-pradhan of a panchayat. 

She also rejected the statement given by the Director General of Police Sita Ram Mardi that Jindan had never approached him seeking protection. A copy of the complaint was shown in the press conference claiming it was also submitted to the DGP. 

Related Story: Jindan Murder: Team of human rights and social activists visits Shillai, makes shocking revelations

Other than the fraud in the Below Poverty Line scheme, her husband was raising his voice against several issues including a murder, alleged sale of brides in Shillai region, the poor state of government schools etc. she told media. She said one such case involves a murder that was hushed up.

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She further told media persons that it is the same group of people who had assaulted Jindan last year and buried him in the sand in a half-dead condition. She said they have the names of all these people.
Jindal’s family hails from a poor background and he was the sole bread earner.

Now, I don’t have any money with me. There was no bank balance as he (Jindan) had spent whatever he earned on social work,

she said.

My relatives, sisters, and parents gave me little money with which I and my two daughters are surviving somehow,

she added. 

She said the government had promised Rs 20 lakh relief and a government job to her. However, none of the officials of the district administration has shown up so far with any sort of relief.

Though the Director General of Police had refuted the family’s claim that Jindan had asked for police protection due to threats to his life, victim’s wife said it was not true. She said her husband has given a list of the people who had assaulted him earlier and were threatening to murder him. However, he was not given any protection.

When asked whether she was given any police protection, she denied receiving any protection.

The Police SIT headed by ASP Virender, on the other hand, is claiming to have almost solved the case. 

Shimla: The Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, has notified the opening of Regional Horticultural and Forestry Development and Extension Center at Thunag. This step is expected to boost scientific horticultural and forestry activities in the remote areas of Mandi district and adjoining areas of the state, informed the Public Relation Officer Suchet Attri.

The Centre will undertake work in the areas of Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, High-tech floriculture, Plant Protection, Forestry, Biotechnology (tissue culture) along with carrying out training and extension activities. The Government of Himachal Pradesh has accorded the approval for opening the Center, he informed.

He said the focus of the Center will be on promoting protected cultivation of vegetables, hi-tech floriculture, production of quality planting material of fruits, vegetables and flowers, and scientific development of forests. In addition, it will also help in increasing the production and productivity of horticultural crops in the region. The scientists will work on increasing farmers’ income through the scientific development of Horticulture and Forestry and most importantly train youth in these activities.

Regular extension and training activities will help to spread awareness about the latest technologies in Horticulture and Forestry.

In order to make the Centre functional, the University has posted two permanent scientists and two office staff at the station. In addition, two visiting scientists have also been attached with the Centre. The Centre will start functioning from the Panchayati Raj building located at Thunag and will be under the direct control of the university. Additional scientists with be posted in the near future.

While thanking the Himachal Pradesh Government and the Chief Minister for approving the setting up of the Centre, UHF Vice-Chancellor Dr HC Sharma said,

The opening of the Center is a big achievement for the university. It will enable us to expand our reach and the farmers will benefit from the latest technologies in Horticulture and Forestry.

He added that the area where the Centre is being set up has a huge scope for improvement in fruits, vegetables and flower production, and explore the medicinal and aromatic plants that are found in abundance in the region.

The farmers are presently undertaking horticultural activities, which are mostly traditional. Since large tracts are under forests, there are ample opportunities for its scientific development and utilization of forest produce,

said Dr Sharma.