We take medicines to avoid diseases, but what will happen to us if we get fake medicines or medicines whose quality is poor? Instead of getting better, you will become sicker. However, some companies are putting people’s lives at stake for profit and the same is happening in many pharmaceutical companies of Himachal Pradesh where samples of medicines are continuously failing.
Questions have once again been raised on the pharmaceutical industry in Himachal Pradesh. The drug alert issued by the Central Drug Authority in October has increased the concern. During investigation, samples of 38 medicines manufactured in Himachal Pradesh failed. These include medicines for diseases like fever, BP, asthma and cancer, which can become a threat to the health of common people.
Which drug samples failed?
The drugs that failed included bioacetamol for fever, divalproex for epilepsy, cepsem for tonsils, tarvigress for BP, montilukast for asthma, stemril and rabeprazole for vomiting, tryptophan for swelling and liposomal for cancer. These are just the names of some medicines. There are 38 such medicines which did 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 counterfeit and spoiled medicines?
* Pay attention to the medicine package. Spelling mistakes, faded colors and unusual fonts on packaging can be signs of counterfeit medicines. Verify barcode and batch number online or through the app.
* Check MRP and manufacturing 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 seems different, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Check the approval status of the drug. Before purchasing the medicine, ensure the validity and acceptance of the respective brand.
* Be careful while buying medicines online. Always buy medicines from trusted platforms only.
What to do if a counterfeit medicine is found?
If you have doubts about the quality of any medicine, immediately lodge a complaint with the local drug department or health authority. Also, consult a doctor for advice on changes in medicine or treatment.