New Delhi, June 22 -- The Union ministry of health and family welfare has banned 16 more fixed dose combinations (FDC), including skin medications, painkillers and muscle relaxants, that it felt had limited therapeutic use, according to people familiar with the matter. "The health ministry has issued notifications under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, prohibiting the manufacture for sale, sale and distribution for human use of 16 FDCs. The notifications have come into force with immediate effect," read the health ministry statement. FDC drugs are those that contain a combination of two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients in a fixed ratio and are also referred to as "cocktail" drugs. According to the health ministry, the decision followed directions of the Supreme Court, which mandated a comprehensive review of FDCs available in the country. In compliance with these directions, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) constituted an expert committee to examine various FDCs and identify those that are "irrational, lack therapeutic justification or may pose risks to human health."P9...