TThe decision to constitute an expert committee for examination and generation of scientific opinion on the issue of banning of packaging of pharmaceutical products like cough syrups in Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles and plastic bottles due to public health and environmental hazard is also welcome by the veteran medicos in the Uttarakhand.
The issue of banning of PET and plastic bottles for packaging of pharmaceutical products was taken up by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) in its meeting held on May 16, this year after considering the health hazardous for the consumers.
The issue was brought up by two Dehradun-based NGOs, demanding complete ban on usages of PET bottles which includes coloured and uncoloured bottles as primary packaging material in pharmaceutical liquid orals, suspensions and dry syrups as it has severe adverse effects on human health due to the presence of endocrine disruptors.
While interacting with The Pioneer, Dr RN Singh, State President, Indian Medical Association, Uttarakhand Chapter and renowned eye-surgeon said that the Union Health Ministry should consider all aspects before banning the use of plastic bottles for packing of life saving drugs.
“The Government should also look for the substitute material which is to be used for the eye drops banning and take account of the topographical conditions of the country,” he stressed, and admitted that the use of plastic materials is hazardous to health.
According to him, instead of spending time and money on such things, the Government should frame effective plans for curbing the shortage of medical officers across the country and redress the grievances being faced by both, government and private practitioners to attract more number of doctors.
Echoing the same feelings, Dr DP Joshi, State General Secretary, Provincial Medical and Health Services Association and neonatologist, Doon Group of Hospitals said that use of plastic materials is surely hazardous for consumers’ health.
He said that the Government should do detailed study before implementing ban on the use of plastic bottles for the packing of the life saving drugs. Dr Joshi said that medical and pharmaceutical products, whether consumed orally by or injected should not be made available to the consumers in a health threatening packaging.
While speaking to The Pioneer, Dr SD Joshi, Senior Physician, Doon Group of Hospitals, said that in PET bottles, leaching takes place under varying storage temperature conditions and the age of packaging. The PET and plastic bottles are composed of rigid plastic and are referred because of their light weight and shatter resistant quality, but it is hazardous to health.