Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Tuesday informed the Assembly that action has been taken against 62 medicines identified as “Not of Standard Quality (NSQ)” in the state.

Responding to a question raised by Congress MLA Gopal Chandra Roy, the Chief Minister said that the State Drugs Testing Laboratory (SDTL) in Agartala has taken the necessary regulatory steps against pharmaceutical companies whose medicines were found to be below standard quality.

Dr. Saha stated that Tripura currently has only one State Drugs Testing Laboratory, located in Agartala. However, he clarified that no spurious or adulterated medicines have been detected in the state during the 2024–25 financial year or so far in 2025–26.

During the discussion, Gopal Chandra Roy expressed concern over the presence of only a single testing laboratory in the state. He urged the government to establish similar laboratories in every district to ensure stricter monitoring of medicines. Roy also warned that the spread of adulterated medicines across the country could pose risks to the North-Eastern region, and questioned whether critical medicines such as saline and injections are being properly tested.

In response, the Chief Minister said that medicines are regularly tested based on suspicion and routine checks to ensure quality standards. He added that the last instance of spurious medicines in Tripura was detected in 2013, and no such case has surfaced since then.

However, cases involving substandard medicines have been reported. According to the Chief Minister, 19 NSQ cases were detected in 2024–25, while 43 cases have been recorded so far in 2025–26, bringing the total to 62 cases.

During supplementary questions, Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman raised concerns about public safety and asked whether the companies involved had been blacklisted and what action had been taken against wholesalers.

Replying to this, Dr. Saha reiterated that although no spurious medicines have been found since 2013, regulatory action has been initiated in NSQ cases. The measures include suspension of licenses. He further informed the Assembly that 16 cases have received stay orders, three are currently under trial in court, and action is ongoing in 40 cases. Authorities in other states where the pharmaceutical companies are based have also been notified about the issue.

The government maintained that it will continue strict monitoring and testing of medicines to ensure the safety of the public.