Karnataka to track cancer patients after fake drug bust
In order to make it easy for laboratories, doctors, and pharmaceutical firms to differentiate between fake and original drugs, the department has written to the headquarters of Pfizer to release their reference standards, says Health Minister U.T. Khader
The Karnataka Health Department is taking measures to track cancer patients after the seizure of counterfeit drugs. Health Minister U.T. Khader announced that licenses of 16 retail and wholesale pharmaceutical firms were cancelled, while eight licenses were suspended. Khader stated that officials will contact cancer patients from private hospitals across the state to check their health status, as they may have unknowingly purchased counterfeit drugs.
He also mentioned that the department is seeking reference standards from Pfizer to differentiate between fake and original drugs, as the company has not responded to their request. The minister added that the government's role in tackling counterfeit drugs is minimal, as it primarily involves granting permissions to manufacturers and regulating the sale of drugs in medical shops.
The investigation into counterfeit drugs is ongoing, and the department is considering booking those involved under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which could result in life imprisonment or a five to ten-year sentence. An all-India health conclave will be held in Bengaluru in the third week of October, where health ministers from across the country, along with officials from the State Drug Standards Authority and FSSAI, will discuss and make strong decisions to combat the issue.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
