We take medicines to avoid diseases, but what will happen to us if the medicines are fake or of poor quality? You will get sicker instead of better. However, some companies are putting people’s lives at stake for profit and this is happening in many pharmaceutical companies of Himachal Pradesh, where medicine samples are continuously failing.
Questions have once again been raised on the pharmaceutical industry in Himachal Pradesh. The recent drug alert issued by the Central Drug Authority in the month of October has raised concerns. During investigation, samples of 38 medicines manufactured in Himachal Pradesh failed. These include medicines for diseases like fever, BP, asthma and cancer, which can pose a threat to the health of the general public.
Samples of which medicines failed?
The drugs that failed included biocetamol for fever, divalproex for epilepsy, cepacam for tonsils, tarvigress for BP, montilukast for asthma, stemeril and rabeprazole for vomiting, trypsin for swelling and liposomal for cancer. These are just the names of some medicines. There are 38 medicines which do not meet the standards or whose samples have failed. Many of these medicines have reached the market and some are being used in people’s homes. After the sample failure, the drug department has given instructions to withdraw all the batches of medicines from the market.
How to identify fake and adulterated medicines?
* Pay attention to the medicine package. Spelling errors, faded colors, and unusual fonts on packaging may be signs of counterfeit medications. Verify barcode and batch number online or through the app.
* Check MRP and product details. Manufacturing date, expiry date and MRP should be clearly written on each medicine. Be careful if this information is missing.
* Check the quality of the medicine. If the color, shape, or texture of the medicine appears different, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Check the approval status of the drug. Before purchasing the medicine, ensure the validity and approval of the concerned brand.
* Be careful while buying medicines online. Always buy medicines from trusted platforms only.
What to do if you find fake medicine?
If you are in doubt about the quality of a medicine, inform the local drug department or health authority immediately. Also, consult a doctor for advice about changing medications or changing treatments.
