The Union Health Ministry implemented a ban on 156 "irrational" FDC medicines, effective immediately. These medicines, including widely used antibiotics, painkillers, and multivitamins, were commonly used to treat fever, cough, and infections. The ban was imposed due to the associated health risks and lack of therapeutic justification for the ingredients in these FDCs.

What are FDC medicines?

FDCs or fixed-dosed combinations, also known as "cocktail drugs," are medications that combine multiple drugs in a single pill. They are designed to treat multiple symptoms or conditions simultaneously. While they offer convenience, they can pose significant risks. These risks include the possibility of overdose, adverse interactions between the drugs, and the development of antibiotic resistance. Additionally, many FDC medicines lack sufficient scientific evidence to support their safety and efficacy.

Expert opinions on FDC medicines

Experts have raised concerns about the use of FDC medicines. They believe that many of these combinations lack sufficient scientific evidence to support their safety and effectiveness. Additionally, the combination of multiple drugs in a single pill can increase the risk of adverse side effects and interactions with other medications.

Experts have also found that FDC medicines may not be as effective as individual drugs in treating certain conditions. It is important to note that safer and more effective alternatives are available for most of the medical conditions that FDC medicines were used to treat. One particular concern is the inclusion of antibiotics in some FDCs. Overuse of antibiotics can contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance, a major public health threat.

The risks of FDC medicines

The use of FDC medicines can lead to adverse effects, including serious ones. Additionally, safer alternatives, tested in clinical trials, are available to treat the same medical conditions. Experts recommend prescribing drugs individually based on a patient's clinical symptoms rather than combining them in FDCs.

The ban on irrational FDC medicines by the Union Health Ministry can be seen as a positive step towards promoting rational drug use and protecting public health. The goal is to eliminate unnecessary and potentially harmful drug combinations. This is a step forward in reducing the risks associated with medication and ensure safer and more effective treatment options for patients.

New Jersey health authorities have issued an alert for travelers who passed through Newark Liberty International Airport on December 19, warning of a possible measles exposure.

According to the state Department of Health, an infected passenger who does not live in New Jersey traveled through at least two airport terminals that day. Officials said anyone who was in Terminal B around 7 a.m. or Terminal C around 7 p.m. may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus. Authorities do not know where the individual was during the hours between those times.

As per NBC News, health officials have issued warnings about possible measles exposure for travelers passing through Boston and Denver.

Measles Alert Issued After Exposure At Two Major US Airports

People who were exposed could begin showing symptoms as late as January 2, as per NBC News. Health officials are urging anyone who believes they may have been exposed or who develops symptoms to contact their local health department or healthcare provider before visiting a clinic or hospital.

Officials noted that special arrangements can be made for medical evaluation to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to other patients and healthcare workers.

Measles Symptoms and Health Risks

Measles typically begins with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A rash usually appears three to five days after symptoms start. It often begins as flat red spots along the hairline and face, then spreads downward to the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet.

In some cases, measles can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis. Pregnant individuals face added risks, such as miscarriage, premature delivery, or having a baby with low birth weight.

What Is Measles?

Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious viral infection causing fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic full-body rash, spread through air and surfaces, which can lead to severe, even deadly, complications like pneumonia or brain swelling, though it's preventable with the measles vaccine, as per Mayo Clinic.

The virus is extremely infectious, with one infected person potentially infecting up to 90% of unvaccinated close contacts, and remains contagious for hours in the air or on surfaces

How Measles Spreads

Measles spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after the person has left the area. Infection can also occur through direct contact with mucus or saliva from someone who is infected.

Rising Measles Cases and Protection

New Jersey has reported 11 confirmed measles cases in 2025, compared with seven cases in 2024. Across the United States, cases have climbed sharply, reaching 2,012 across 44 jurisdictions as of December 23, the highest number reported since 1992.

State health officials are working with local agencies on contact tracing and outreach to alert those who may have been exposed. Individuals most at risk include those who are not fully vaccinated or who have never had measles.

The MMR vaccine, given in two doses, remains the most effective protection against measles, mumps, and rubella.

A government-owned Indian vaccine manufacturer has questioned a December 22 health advisory issued by Australian authorities that warned of “counterfeit batches” of an anti-rabies vaccine circulating in India since November 2023, and has formally requested that the notice be reviewed.

Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine Makers Say It Reported Single Counterfeit Case

Indian Immunologicals Limited said it had already reported a counterfeiting incident involving one batch of its anti-rabies vaccine, Abhayrab, in January, and cautioned that the Australian advisory risked creating “anxiety and mistrust” among both the public and medical professionals.

However, India’s central drug regulator has not made public whether it carried out an investigation, how widely the fake vaccine may have spread, or how many people might have received it. As a result, the scale of the incident and its possible consequences remain uncertain.

Australian Warning Highlights Risk to Travellers

The Australian advisory stated that although Abhayrab is not sold in Australia, individuals who were vaccinated while travelling in India might not be fully protected against rabies, a viral infection of the central nervous system that is almost always fatal if treatment is delayed or missed.

Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine: Details of the Australian Advisory

“Counterfeit (fake) batches of rabies vaccine Abhayrab have been circulating in India since November 1, 2023,” the advisory directed at travellers and healthcare workers said. “People who have received Abhayrab, or an unknown rabies vaccine brand in India from November 1, 2023, onwards are advised to consult their healthcare provider to assess whether replacement doses are required.”

Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine: Similar Alerts Issued by Other Countries

The Australian notice followed similar warnings elsewhere. On November 25, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a rabies case in a traveller returning from India and referred to the circulation of counterfeit Abhayrab vaccines. A UK travel health authority had also released an alert about the falsified vaccine on October 29.

Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine: Indian Firm Warns of Public Confusion

In a communication dated December 25 to Australian health officials, Indian Immunologicals Limited said the advisory could be misunderstood and weaken confidence in vaccines, and asked that it be reconsidered to prevent confusion among healthcare providers.

The manufacturer said it has supplied more than 210 million doses of Abhayrab in India and overseas, describing it as “the most trusted brand” in the country and stating that it accounts for around 40 per cent of India’s anti-rabies vaccine market.

Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine: Details of the Counterfeit Batch

The company said the counterfeiting involved a single batch, KA-24014, which was manufactured in March 2024 and is due to expire in February 2027. This was reported to India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation on January 13, 2025.

According to Indian Immunologicals Limited, the counterfeit vaccine carried the same batch number but listed a manufacturing date of November 2023 and an expiry date of October 2026. The counterfeit packaging also omitted the ₹ symbol before the printed price of 397.62.

The firm said it had urged the CDSCO in January to investigate the counterfeiting, seize the fake vaccines, and work with law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible for manufacturing and distributing them.

Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine: No Response From CDSCO

Questions sent by this newspaper to the CDSCO on Saturday seeking updates on the status or findings of any investigation did not receive a response. Without official information from the regulator, experts say it is difficult to determine how widely the falsified vaccine may have circulated or how many people could have been affected.

Concerns Over Wording of Advisory

A scientist specialising in rabies research in India said the Australian advisory’s reference to “counterfeit batches” and circulation “since November 2023” could alarm many people who have received anti-rabies vaccines, as per The Telegraph.

“Abhayrab is a reliable vaccine and is used extensively across the country,” said Reeta Mani, professor and head of neurovirology at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Bengaluru. “Public advisories need precise language. People should not lose faith in vaccines.”

Rabies Burden in India

A 2022 report by the National Centre for Disease Control estimated that nearly 2.3 million people in India receive post-exposure rabies vaccines each year after animal bites, most commonly from dogs.

Research published earlier this year by the Indian Council of Medical Research estimated that rabies causes about 5,700 deaths annually in India, a reduction from earlier estimates of nearly 20,000 deaths per year.

Peer-reviewed studies have shown that thousands of people worldwide have received counterfeit rabies vaccines. This includes more than 1,600 recipients in a single Chinese province in 2010, and over 1,13,000 falsified rabies vaccine doses reported by Chinese regulators in 2018.

Although the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has cleared Tofersen for use, NHS patients are still unable to receive the motor neurone disease treatment because of administrative hurdles and related problems, The Telegraph has reported.

What Is Tofersen?

Tofersen targets the underlying cause of MND in patients with a specific inherited mutation. It prevents harmful proteins from clumping together in the brain and spinal cord, a process that damages motor neurones. Doctors have reported that some patients have seen their symptoms ease after starting the drug.

MND Drug Denied On NHS

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved Tofersen for use in the UK in 2025. The drug is already available to patients in Europe and the United States. However, it is still under review by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which decides whether medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS based on benefit and value for money.

While this assessment continues, Biogen, the biotechnology company behind Tofersen, has agreed to an early access arrangement with the NHS. Under this deal, the drug is being supplied free of charge on compassionate grounds.

Despite the free supply, dozens of patients are missing out. Several NHS trusts are unwilling to fund the additional costs linked to administering the treatment, such as staffing and hospital resources.

MND Drug Denied On NHS: At Least 20 Patients Denied Treatment

Data shared with The Telegraph shows that at least 20 patients have been refused access to Tofersen. The MND Association has described the situation as one where the drug could mean the “difference between life and death”.

Charity Calls for Government Action

Alex Massey, head of campaigning, policy and public affairs at the MND Association, said everyone with this form of MND should receive the drug, as per The Telegraph.

“We are talking about a small amount of extra resource for something that could be the difference between life and death,” he said. “People with MND do not have time to wait, so we urge the Government to step in and break the deadlock.”

How Common Is MND In The UK

Around 5,000 people in the UK are living with MND at any one time, and about one in 10 has a family history of the condition. Most diagnoses occur in people in their 60s, with average life expectancy ranging from two to five years.

What MND Does to the Body

MND causes the nerve cells that control movement to fail, leading to progressive weakness and mobility problems. Early symptoms often include weakness in the hands, legs or feet, making tasks such as climbing stairs or gripping objects difficult.

As the disease advances, patients may experience muscle twitching, spasms and cramps. Many develop difficulties with breathing, swallowing and speech, along with changes in mood or personality. In later stages, walking and movement can become extremely limited.

Limited Treatment Options Available

About 1,500 people are diagnosed with MND each year, yet treatment choices remain scarce. Only a small proportion of patients currently qualify for therapies that target the disease process itself.

Roughly two per cent of MND cases involve a mutation in the SOD1 gene, which causes a form of the disease known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This mutation leads to faulty proteins that build up in the brain and spinal cord instead of breaking down harmful substances, damaging nerve cells.

Why Tofersen Is Different

Tofersen is designed to target this genetic fault. Clinical trials showed that the drug reduced levels of the toxic protein in spinal fluid and lowered markers of nerve damage in the blood.

The MND Association says 44 patients are currently receiving Tofersen, but at least 20 eligible patients have been refused. Only eight of the 24 specialist neurology centres capable of delivering the treatment have opted to do so.

NHS Response

An NHS spokesperson said some hospitals have worked hard to find extra staff and resources to take part in the early access programme and provide Tofersen safely to eligible patients.

They added that the NHS is encouraging Biogen to complete the Nice appraisal process, which is the only way the drug can be formally recommended as a safe, effective and cost-efficient treatment for all eligible patients in England.