Khader Seeks Tougher Criminal Action Against Fake Drug Sellers

Mangaluru: Health Minister UT Khader on Tuesday said the Centre should consider stringent criminal action, including provisions relating to attempt to murder or murder, against those involved in selling counterfeit medicines.

Speaking to reporters he said that the existing penalties and licence cancellation provisions were not enough to deter the offence.

Khader said the state government had detected a counterfeit drug labelling network involving medicines worth more than Rs 5 crore. A preliminary investigation indicated that the network had links in other states as well, he said.

“We have urged the Centre to take the matter seriously and initiate a probe through the CBI or the central drug investigation agency,” he stated.

The government would take strict action against anyone found to have put people’s lives at risk, he said.

“There will be zero tolerance towards anyone who plays with people's lives. Strict instructions have been issued to completely withdraw all medicines belonging to the suspected batches from hospitals and medical shops,” he said.

He stated that the login access linked to the suspected network had also been blocked on the department’s online portal, preventing vouchers from being generated through it anywhere in the state.

Khader also sought to allay concerns triggered by social media posts claiming that counterfeit medicines had been supplied to hospitals.

Meanwhile the government is considering setting up an advanced drug-testing laboratory to detect counterfeit medicines and speed up quality checks, Khader said.

A system for surprise inspections is also proposed, under which drug control officials would visit pharmaceutical factories, hospitals and medical shops, collect random samples and send them for laboratory testing.