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The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Chemists' association demands high-level enforcement task force to act against counterfeit drug networks
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.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Bengaluru Chemists' body seeks crackdown on fake medicines
BENGALURU: The Bangalore District Chemists and Druggists Association (BDCDA) has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to constitute a high-level enforcement task force headed by senior IPS officers to tackle the growing threat of counterfeit medicines. The association said the proposed task force, involving officers from the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration department (FDA), must be empowered to carry out state-wide raids, seizures, and arrests of those involved in the fake drug trade, which it described as 'a form of national public health terrorism.' BDCDA acknowledged and appreciated the government's recent move to develop a software for the recall of Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) drugs — a first-of-its-kind initiative in India. However, it emphasised that this only addresses a limited part of the much bigger issue of counterfeit and spurious drugs in circulation, particularly in the post-Covid period, when their prevalence has reportedly surged by 50%. Citing Parliamentary Standing Committee findings and recent trends, the association warned that counterfeit medicines were infiltrating the market due to lax enforcement, lenient laws, and growing consumer preference for discounted drugs. A key bottleneck, according to BDCDA, is the shortage of drug inspectors. Only eight out of 12 sanctioned posts in the state are filled, making surveillance against fake drugs extremely difficult. To address this, it reiterated the need for an IPS-led multi-agency team that could plug enforcement gaps and ensure strong punishment for offenders.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Need clarity on disposal and return process for cut medicine strips and surgical products: Bangalore Chemists' Association
Welcoming the guidance document on safe disposal of unused and expired drugs released by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) this week, the Bangalore District Chemists and Druggists' Association (BDCDA) has sought clarification on the disposal methods for expired cut strips of medicines and surgical products. Currently, there is no provision for the return and the disposal of these products. The CDSCO's guidance document is aimed at addressing issues emerging from the careless disposal of unused or expired medicines and the hazards it creates in the environment and public health. The document is expected to help various stakeholders, including the general public, to dispose of expired or unused medicine in a safe manner, and is also an important move towards curbing the growth of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General (India), in a communication dated May 25 to the Drugs Controllers of all States and Union Territories, called on them to encourage the stakeholders concerned in their respective States to adopt the guidelines for safe disposal of expired/unused drugs which will be an important step in combating AMR in the country. The guidance document analyses various methods, including landfill after encapsulation or inertisation of drugs, use of sewer, burning in open containers, medium temperature incineration, novel high temperature incineration, and chemical decomposition. Examining the existing rule position, it details the procedures to be followed by stakeholders for the disposal of such drugs at each level. Need clarity 'Upon reviewing the guidance document, we have identified several areas that require clarification and necessary ratification to ensure the successful and practical implementation of the disposal framework,' said BDCDA president B. Thirunavukkarasu. 'We need clarity on the disposal and return process for cut strips of medicines, for Propaganda-cum-Distribution (PCD) medicines, expired generics where high-trade margins are cited, and expired surgical products such as gloves and syringes. Currently, these are disposed of just like any other trash in the dustbin,' Mr. Thirunavukkarasu said. Elaborating on the operational challenges from a retailer's perspective, he said there is a need to align with the industry practice of 150 days for return of expired medicines presently followed owing to the MoU signed between National Trade body and the pharma companies or provide a flexible period of 60 to 90 days. 'Common batch number mismatches owing to fragmented supply chains must be resolved to avoid denial of returns,' he added.
