167 Drug Samples Failed Quality Tests in December 2025: Health Ministry
The Health Ministry said that 167 drug samples were found to be ‘not of standard quality’ (NSQ) in December 2025. These medicines failed quality tests during routine checks conducted by drug authorities across the country.
The government said that the list of NSQ and spurious drugs is uploaded every month on the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) portal. This is part of regular regulatory surveillance to ensure that medicines sold in the market are safe and effective.
Officials clarified that drugs marked as NSQ do not always mean they are fake. They may fail quality standards due to issues like low strength, contamination, or labeling problems. However, spurious drugs are fake and pose serious health risks.
The Health Ministry said action is taken against manufacturers and sellers of such medicines as per law. The government advised people to buy medicines only from licensed pharmacies and report any suspected poor-quality drugs to authorities.
