BENGALURU: Health Minister UT Khader on Sunday said the state has uncovered a large network involved in spurious medicines that has links with networks operating in other states. The investigation is under way and details will be made public after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submits its report.
He said action has been taken against several pharmacies and firms involved in the case. “Whoever they may be, however powerful they are, we will not spare anyone,” he said.
Additional Drug Controller Dr Umesh S said licences of 16 firms have been cancelled, while those of eight firms suspended for alleged violations. The punitive action covers both retail pharmacies and wholesalers, he said.
On action against Pfizer – a global pharma major – Umesh said the department has stopped business transactions at Pfizer’s C&F depot in Nelamangala until further orders. But the company’s drug stocks have not been seized, he said. “There is only one Pfizer C&F depot in the state, from where the stock is supplied to 14 other stockists across the state,” he said.
Action was taken against the depot as the spurious drugs that were seized recently had Pfizer labels. The company has not come forward to identify and recall its genuine products from the market. “Unless they identify their products, how can we tell which is spurious and which is not,” he asked.
The department has frozen the products. Those drugs that are not identified by the company as its own will be treated as spurious and action taken against those holding them, he added. There is no need for the public to panic as the same drug combinations manufactured by Pfizer are available from other pharmaceutical companies, he said.
Medicines at government hospitals safe, says Khader
Health Minister UT Khader said Pfizer has not cooperated with the authorities in the investigation. Action will be taken against companies and individuals irrespective of their size or standing, he warned. He said the medicines supplied to government hospitals are safe.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the premises were allegedly being used to procure low-cost medicines from neighbouring states.
These medicines were allegedly refilled into new vials and relabelled to imitate expensive life-saving medicines of multinational companies, particularly imported products under the Pfizer brand, the department said.
Counterfeit labels bearing QR codes were also found, which the department said were non-functional when verified. Officials said the suspected spurious medicines either contained no active medicinal ingredients, incorrect ingredients or toxic substances.
A criminal case has been registered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The department said conviction under the provision carries a minimum punishment of 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment, which may extend to life imprisonment, along with fines.
The seized spurious medicines, machinery and printing materials are being documented and will be produced before the JMFC Court, Bengaluru South. The SIT has extended the probe to trace the supply chain, while efforts are on to identify and arrest the accused.
The department has urged citizens and patients to purchase life-saving medicines only from licensed pharmacies and obtain valid tax invoices. It advised the public to report suspicious changes in packaging or QR codes that do not scan to drug enforcement authorities.