The prevalence of substandard drugs tarnishes the already troubled reputation of the pharmaceutical industry.This rewritten version maintains the original message but conveys it in a more concise and natural-sounding way, using the word tarnishes instead of sully to convey the idea of damaging the industry’s reputation.

The pharmaceutical industry in Himachal Pradesh has been facing a crisis due to the emergence of several cases of substandard drugs every month. Despite claims of producing high-quality drugs, several firms have been found to be producing poor-quality drugs, with multiple samples failing quality parameters every month. The State Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has conducted inspections and taken action against 116 pharmaceutical companies, but habitual offenders continue to be a concern. The DCA has devised standard operating procedures (SOPs) to deal with erring firms, but limited success has been achieved. To address the issue, the Union Government has made it mandatory for all pharma firms to upgrade their facilities as per Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. This will bring them in line with global standards, including World Health Organisation norms. The revised standards will introduce strict quality parameters, including pharmaceutical quality system, quality risk management, and Good Manufacturing Practices. Companies that fail to comply will face suspension of their licence or a penalty.