DNA Special: How to differentiate counterfeit medicines from genuine ones

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested 10 people for selling injections of Amphotericin B, a drug used in the treatment of Black Fungus disease, at 5 times the maximum retail price. These people were not only making and selling fake medicine of Black Fungus. Rather, the same racket was caught making fake Remdesivir a few days ago. The man who was caught on April 28 for making fake Remdesivir, came out on bail on May 8 and then started making and selling fake injections of Black Fungus along with his associates.

According to WHO, 10 percent of the total pharmaceutical market in India and developing countries are counterfeit. According to a US report, 20 percent of counterfeit medicines are made and sold in India alone. These figures tarnish the image of India's pharmacy to the World. But even more sad thing is that these fake medicines and injections can kill someone.

In the first week of June, many patients had serious side effects due to the fake injections of Amphotericin B in three cities of Madhya Pradesh. An investigation in this case is going on in the state. It is feared that the injections may be fake.

Today we will tell you about the methods to differentiate between genuine and fake medicine. Apart from this, you will also know where to complain about this criminal incident that happened to you. You must be thinking that if any fake medicine or injection comes into your hand, then what is the way to check it?

So if you think that the medicine you have bought is fake, then you can complain to the drug inspector of your area, but you must have the original bill for the medicine.

Apart from this, you can also contact the pharmaceutical company to know whether the injection you received is genuine or not. You can get this information through the batch number on the medicine

There are drug controller offices and drug inspectors in every state of the country. These people periodically pick up batches of medicines and do their chemical analysis. But overall there are less than 50 drug testing centres in the country. Similarly, many posts of Drug Inspector are also lying vacant. 

Two years ago the Drug Technical Advisory Board made two big suggestions. The first is to issue a mobile number on which people can complain about fake medicines or injections. And another was to make barcode mandatory on all medicines.

To date, both the suggestions have not been implemented. However, some big pharmaceutical companies are putting up barcodes at their level to avoid counterfeit drugs. However, because of this technology, the cost of the drug increases. That is why until it is made a mandatory decision, there is no solid way to differentiate between fake and genuine medicine. But still, if you are being given any medicine without a bill, and if that medicine looks bad just by looking at it or its price is very less or more than the MRP, then you should be alert.