Fake drugs racket in Delhi

The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) has claimed that there is a thriving fake drugs market in Delhi that is endangering many lives and no adequate steps are being taken towards this end. The samples collected from the area in and around Bhagirath palace in Delhi, the largest wholesale market of drugs in India, have shown that the drugs being sold to patients and medical practitioners do not contain adequate amounts of the main ingredient of the drug. For example, a sample of Ciprofloxacin, a potent antibiotic used in the treatment of anthrax and drug-resistant tuberculosis, was found to contain only 1-2% of the actual ingredient. Out of a total of 53 samples that were tested, only 4 were authentic drugs, the rest were fake. At least 9 samples reportedly had no medical ingredient. Some doctors had repeatedly warned that the drugs were not having the desired effect on the patients. After repeated warnings, the Drug Control department of Delhi conducted the raids. Some of the fake medicines were those that are supposedly manufactured by leading pharmaceutical companies like Novartis, Cadila, Pfizer etc. The authorities suspect the involvement of an organised sector in the manufacture and marketing of these spurious drugs. Medical practitioners are worried that such drugs may even be fatal since they would not be effective in case emergency measures need to be taken in the event of an epidemic. There are no existing rules to bring the manufacturers of these spurious drugs to book. The maximum punishment for this crime is imprisonment of 2-3 years and some fine. A way to prevent the illegal marketing of such drugs would be ensure that bills and receipts are collected by the buyers at every stage. This would include the dealers taking bills when they buy the drugs from the manufacturers and the distributors in turn demanding bills from the distributors. Chemists must demand a doctor's prescription before selling these drugs to the public. Even patients need to be careful while buying the medicines from the chemists by demanding the receipt and checking the price of the medicines. In case the chemist sells the medicines at a lower price than that is marked, foul play may be suspected. Greater vigilance and stricter rules are the need of the hour since the authorities may not be able to monitor all transactions. Consumers are free to report any suspicions concerning the medicines they use to the health authorities and take the responsibility of their well being in their own hands.

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