Proving that all industry-wide bodies are alike in their megalomania, Assocham today disclosed estimates of “counterfeit drugs’ that are eerily similar to piracy scorecards the MPAA periodically puts out. Business Standard carries this article today with the heading “Fake drugs growing at 20-25%: Assocham”, and alleges that the fake and spurious drug market “has already exceeded the Rs 15,000-crore per annum mark nationally.”
The chamber also pointed out that the sale of spurious drugs in the National Capital Region (NCR) is to the extent of Rs 300 crore per annum, and according to the latest information available, it has gone up to 20-25 per cent of the total medicines sold in the region.
Intensification of the sale of spurious drugs in the region has not only severely impacted business of original drug manufacturers in the region by over 25 per cent but is also putting the life of patients on risk, the chamber said.
The concentration of fake drugs manufacturing facilities can be found in locations such as Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Bhiwadi, Ballabhgarh, Sonepat, Hisar and parts of Punjab which are closed to the NCR, it added.
The shortage of drug inspectors and proper lab facilities for checking purity of drugs and inherent weakness in drug distribution system are the main reason for the spread of fake drugs in the NCR, the chamber pointed out.”
Only last month, the Orissa High Court had reportedly observed : “Orissa has become a dumping ground of fake medicines” and had directed the State Government to check entry of fake drugs into the State from outside.” The court made this observation in a case pertaining to the death of five persons, including two newborns at SCB Medical College and Hospital, seven years ago allegedly due to spurious saline administered on them.
More grist for the Indian Drug-Scene jigsaw that I’m trying to piece together.
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