Health and Family Welfare Ministry today decided to cancel licences of 20 drug companies for failing to ensure quality of their products.

The ministry took the decision following recommendations of an expert committee, it said in a press release today.

In a meeting with the officials of Department of Drug Administration, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim directed them take immediate steps to implement the decision, added the press release.

The companies have repeatedly and grossly failed to comply with the good manufacturing practices (GMP), according to a report prepared by the committee.

An evaluation of the GMP of 84 drug makers was done for two years following a decision of the parliamentary standing committee on the health and family welfare ministry in August 2014.

The companies are: Aexim Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Avert Pharma Ltd, Bikolpo Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Dolphin Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Drugland Ltd, Globe Laboratories (pvt) Ltd, Jalpha Laboratories Ltd, Kafma Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Medico Pharmaceuticals Ltd, National Drug Pharma Ltd, North Bengal Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Remo Chemicals Ltd (Pharma Division), Rid Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Skylab Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Spark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Star Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Sunipun Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Today Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Tropical Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Universal Pharmaceuticals Ltd.