The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued an alert regarding 17 medicines used for gastrointestinal diseases, throat infections, fungal infections, pain, joint inflammation, and allergies.
According to details, the Punjab Drug Control Directorate launched a large-scale crackdown against those manufacturing and selling counterfeit medicines. During operations, counterfeit drugs were identified from various markets.
In this regard, DRAP also issued a rapid product alert, stating that the Punjab Drug Testing Laboratory declared 18 batches of 17 medicines as counterfeit.
The alert mentioned that the counterfeit medicines include drugs for gastrointestinal issues, throat infections, fungal infections, prostate diseases, gynecological conditions, pain, arthritis, allergies, neuropathy, and sedatives.
According to DRAP’s alert, these medicines were manufactured under the brand names of various national and multinational companies, with addresses of Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad printed on their labels.
The alert further revealed that these batches were produced in illegal factories and supplied to the market, but their raw materials could not be verified, nor their quality and efficacy ensured. Their use may result in life threatening consequences.
Under Section 3 of the Drug Act 1976, these medicines have been declared counterfeit. DRAP has directed the regulatory force to immediately seize these batches from the market, while distributors and medical stores have been instructed to promptly inform the authorities if counterfeit medicines are identified.
