New Delhi/UNI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to Delhi Chief Secretary, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), and Police Commissioner on Friday after the epilepsy drug ‘Sodium Valproate’ reportedly failed quality testing.

The Commission has sought a detailed report within four weeks.

The Commission took suo motu cognizance of a media report that a medicine ‘Sodium Valproate’, recommended for treatment of epilepsy in Delhi government-run hospitals and Mohalla Clinics, has reportedly been found to be not meeting the requisite standards as per a report issued by the Regional Drug Testing Laboratory (RDTL), Chandigarh.

According to the media report, another medicine prescribed by the doctors for the treatment of epilepsy was also found to be inadequate, the NHRC said in a communiqué.

The report released by the Directorate of Vigilance showed that a total of 43 samples of medicines were sent for examination by the government laboratories, out of which four samples failed the test, and the report for 11 samples is still awaited, the communique said.

According to the media report, carried out on Dec 28, five medicines have been banned so far, including those being prescribed for the treatment of hypertension, epilepsy, excess acid influx, joint pain, and swelling in the lungs.