Chemists' association demands high-level enforcement task force to act against counterfeit drug networks

The Hindu

2 days ago

Drawing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's attention to the escalating crisis of counterfeit medicines in Karnataka, the Bangalore District Chemists and Druggists Association (BDCDA) has demanded that a high-level enforcement task force be set up to conduct Statewide operations against spurious drug networks.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, the chemists' body has said there is an urgent need for a dedicated team led by senior IPS officers and enforcement officials from the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration to conduct Statewide operations against counterfeit drug networks.
Global reputation
Lauding the government for its decision to recall not-of-standard quality (NSQ) drugs from end points, BDCDA president B. Thirunavukkarasu said the menace of counterfeit drugs not only endangers the lives of our citizens but also tarnishes India's global reputation in the pharmaceutical trade and inflicts significant economic damage. 'Recent reports indicate a 50% surge in counterfeit medicines post-COVID-19 pandemic, attributed to factors such as consumer preference for discounted drugs, inadequate government vigilance, and lenient prohibitive laws,' he said.
'The recall of NSQ drugs addresses only a fraction of the problem. The root issue lies in the unchecked manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit medicines. Notably, Karnataka has flagged 26 medicines as misbranded or spurious, consumed for common problems such as acidity, pain relief, and for cholesterol control. However, the absence of widespread seizures in the State does not imply the non-existence of counterfeit drugs. It highlights potential gaps in detection and enforcement,' Mr. Thirunavukkarasu said.
Pointing out that Karnataka's Health Minister has acknowledged the acute shortage of drug inspectors in the State, with only eight out of 112 sanctioned posts filled, he said, 'This shortfall hampers effective surveillance and enforcement against counterfeit drug operations. To address this, we propose the formation of a high-level task force led by IPS officers, in collaboration with enforcement officers from the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration. Such a team will be instrumental in conducting Statewide search and seizure operations, ensuring stringent punishment of culprits involved in the counterfeit drug trade.'
Breach of QR code security
The letter, also addressed to the Health and Home Ministers apart from the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Health), pointed out that the integrity of QR codes, introduced as an anti-counterfeiting measure, has been compromised. Reports indicate that counterfeiters have successfully replicated functional QR codes on fake medicine packages, rendering the current authentication system ineffective. This breach poses a significant threat to consumer safety and undermines trust in pharmaceutical products, the letter stated.
'Our observations suggest a disturbing trend of unauthorised supplies infiltrating Karnataka through semi-wholesalers, procuring agents, and sub-stockists. These entities are instrumental in supplying counterfeit medicines to unregulated e-commerce and quick commerce platforms, exacerbating the spread of fake drugs.'
The chemists' body has also demanded that the online sale of medicines be temporarily suspended until a robust and enforceable regulatory mechanism is established.