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13 Jun 2019
GS Paper 3
Science & Technology
What are Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs)? Mention their advantages and disadvantages in the Indian context. (250 words)
Approach:
- Explain Fixed Dose Combinations.
- Explain the advantages of FDCs for India.
- Explain the possible disadvantages of FDCs for India.
- Conclude by providing a way forward for FDCs.
Introduction
- A fixed-dose combination (FDC) drug contains two or more active drugs in a fixed dosage ratio.
Body
Advantages of FDCs in India
- FDCs improve patient compliance, simplify therapy and maximise the benefit from the synergistic effects of the two medicinal products given together.
- Treatment of infectious diseases: India has a large population of people suffering from infectious diseases. FDCs are particularly useful in the treatment of infectious diseases like HIV, malaria and tuberculosis where giving multiple antimicrobial agents is the norm.
- FDCs are also of use in chronic conditions especially when multiple disorders often co-exist.
- Affordability and accessibility: FDCs offer specific advantages over the single entity preparations, such as increased efficacy, and/or a reduced incidence of adverse effects, possibly reduced cost and simpler logistics of distribution relevant to situations of limited resources as in the case of India.
Disadvantages of FDCs in India
- Side effects: There are increased chances of adverse drug effects and drug interactions if medicines are combined instead of being taken separately.
- Drug resistance: Unnecessary use of combination drugs makes the human body resistant to treatment.
- Irrational usage: The easy availability and affordability encourage irrational and indiscriminate use by peoples.Irrational use of FDCs of antibiotics is among the major causes of antibiotic resistance in India.
- FDCs are often prescribed to cover up for diagnostic imprecision encouraging the practices of quack doctors.
Conclusion
- Drugs Technical Advisory Board is a statutory body constituted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 advises Central and State government on technical matters related to drugs and cosmetics.
- Government constituted C.K. Kokate Committee to examine the safety and efficacy of unapproved FDCs. It has recommended prohibiting the production and consumption of these drugs.
- Apart from the regulation of irrational usage of FDCs, the government needs to make people aware of the safe usage of FDCs.
