New Delhi, Aug 23 (Reporter) The government on Friday ordered a ban on manufacturing, sales and distribution of 156 medicines including antibiotics, painkillers, and multivitamins after a review found that they posed health risks. In a notification, the Union Health Ministry said, "The drugs were examined by a Centre appointed expert panel that found the Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) to be irrational". The Ministry said the use of these drugs are likely to involve risk to human beings whereas safer alternatives are available. It also added that the decision has been taken after the matter was examined by an expert committee appointed by the government and the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB). The Ministry further added that DTAB did not find the claims of these combinations correct and took the decision considering that the harm to the patient is more than the benefit...////...