By Anwar Khan
Karachi: The Sindh Drug Testing Laboratory has declared nine products of LC Care Pharma spurious, adulterated, substandard and unregistered, saying tests found no active ingredient or only a very small amount in the samples.
In nine reports issued by Director of the Drug Testing Laboratory Sindh Syed Adnan Rizvi, the laboratory also reported dirt and foul-smelling substances in all nine samples. The labels lacked manufacturing licence and registration numbers, according to the reports.
Benzydamine, an active ingredient in Total Care Mouthwash, was not detected, while the amount of chlorhexidine was less than 10 per cent, the reports said. Calamine in Magic Lotion was measured at 14 per cent.
The products included medicines for the eyes and ears of children and adults, including an eye ointment, cream, spray and lotion. The reports said the amount of the antibiotic tobramycin in the tested medicines was very low. Experts warned that using fake or ineffective eye medicines could put eyesight at risk.
A drug inspector and his team collected the samples from District Central, North Karachi, the reports said.
The laboratory has sent its findings to the Provincial Inspector of Drugs, Karachi Central, and the Secretary of the Sindh Quality Control Board for legal action against the company.