Punjab’s primary health authorities have issued an urgent advisory to hospitals and pharmacies across the province, warning of a surge in counterfeit crepe bandages. These products, often sold in packaging mimicking reputable medical brands, lack the elasticity and sterilization required for wound care, posing a direct threat to patient recovery.
The provincial drug control wing flagged the issue after a series of complaints from surgeons reporting that bandages were fraying or losing tension within hours of application. In some instances, the inferior material caused skin irritation and allergic reactions in patients who required long-term support for sprains or post-operative care.
“We are tracking batches that have bypassed standard quality checks,” a senior official in the Punjab Health Department told reporters. “These aren’t just ineffective; they are a health hazard for anyone relying on them for orthopedic stabilization.”
The counterfeit items are reportedly entering the market through unregulated wholesale channels, often priced significantly lower than authentic supplies. Distributors are using high-quality counterfeit boxes that make it difficult for hospital procurement officers to identify the fraud at a glance.
The Health Department has directed all district health authorities to conduct immediate inspections of medical stores and hospital inventories. Any stock found without the proper manufacturing stamps and verification codes from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) is to be seized and destroyed.
For patients and medical practitioners, the advice is simple: verify the seal. Authentic bandages are typically vacuum-sealed with clear labeling identifying the manufacturer and the expiry date. If the packaging appears flimsy or the print quality is blurred, the department warns that it should be rejected immediately.
This recall comes as the provincial government faces renewed pressure to tighten oversight on the medical supply chain. With the investigation into the origins of these spurious shipments ongoing, officials say they are preparing to name the distributors involved once the forensic audit of the seized batches is complete.
