NEW DELHI 31 December :- The Union Health Ministry has officially prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of all oral formulations containing the popular painkiller Nimesulide in dosages exceeding 100 mg.
In an official notification issued under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the government cited significant risks to human health as the primary reason for the immediate ban. The move follows a critical recommendation from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which highlighted that while high-dosage Nimesulide in immediate-release forms poses a danger to patients, several safer pharmaceutical alternatives are already available in the Indian market.
The decision was finalized after extensive consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), concluding that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of public safety. The ban, which comes into immediate effect, aims to prevent the misuse of high-potency formulations of the drug, which have long been associated with adverse side effects.
Pharmaceutical companies and distributors across the country are now required to cease the production and supply of these specific dosages, as the government prioritizes the shift toward safer pain management solutions for human use.
