'Our drugs in Indian, global markets safe'

Beleaguered drug maker Ranbaxy, which agreed to pay $500 million fine to US authorities after pleading guilty to "felony charges" for making and selling adulterated drugs, on Friday claimed its "products currently in the Indian market and globally are safe and efficacious".

"All Ranbaxy products currently in the Indian market and globally are safe and efficacious. Ranbaxy stands by the quality of every medicine that the company makes and distributes in India and every country around," the company said in what it called was an "advisory in public interest for patients, doctors and all its stakeholders".

The company's move follows reports of a circular by Mumbai's Jaslok Hospital, put restrictions on prescribing Ranbaxy Laboratories products. A The hospital had reportedly issued the circular post Ranbaxy's agreement to pay a fine of $500 million fine to US Authorities earlier this month. Other hospitals have, however, not taken a similar step yet.