Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cancelled licences of 176 retailers and 39 wholesalers in the past year for selling substandard medicines. FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal revealed this during a State Assembly session on December 10, 2025. The crackdown followed testing of cough syrups and other medicines collected in special drives across Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Aurangabad, and Nagpur divisions. "Licences of 176 retailers and 39 wholesalers were cancelled. Further, 136 retailers and 93 wholesalers were inspected. Show-cause notices were issued and licences were cancelled for selling substandard cough syrups," Mr. Zirwal said. He added that fake cough syrups were found in drug stores and companies during an October 2024 drive. Doctors, clinics, and pharmacists were directed not to prescribe or sell medicines with propranolol, an FDA warning due to poor drug quality. Of 36 samples tested at 10 sites, 34 were substandard, including medicines for hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, heart disease, and blood purification. Six samples of a particular paediatric cough syrup brand were also inferior. Mr. Zirwal noted that some drugs were altered or combined and sold under new names. Several fake and substandard medicines reached government hospitals through unauthorized suppliers. The FDA’s work was hampered by 176 vacant posts of drug inspectors. Maharashtra operates three drug testing labs in Mumbai, Nagpur, and Pune, with plans to upgrade labs in Nashik and Pune. To strengthen controls, 109 drug inspector positions will soon be filled via the Maharashtra Public Service Commission examination, ensuring better monitoring of drug quality across the state.