How to spot counterfeit/spurious medicines and report them to Telangana Drugs Control
Given the prevalence of such counterfeit/spurious drugs in the market, it is important to be able to differentiate them from the original ones
By Newsmeter Network Published on 13 Jan 2024 2:30 AM
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Hyderabad: In December 2023 and January 2024, the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) of Telangana busted counterfeit/spurious drugs rackets in Hyderabad with supplies worth Rs 26 lakhs coming from Kashipur, Uttarakhand and Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh through courier. Similarly, the DCA seized fake anti-cancer drugs from a godown in Machabollaram in December 2023.
Given the prevalence of such counterfeit/spurious drugs in the market, it is important to be able to differentiate them from the original ones.
How to detect fake medicines?
Some spurious drugs are almost visually identical to the original/genuine product and very difficult to detect. Many times, a laboratory test is the only way to identify the difference. However, in certain cases, spurious drugs may be identified by:
- Side-by-side comparison: If it is a product you have used before, compare the suspicious product with that of the earlier used product of the same company to identify the differences between the suspected spurious/counterfeit drug and an original drug.
Try to match it with the previous packaging. Please take a photograph of the product if you are using it often for future comparison in case of suspicion. Medicines are manufactured with precision, so any variation in size, weight, colour, quality or embossing could indicate counterfeiting.
- Spelling errors: Check the medicines for spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. Mistakes in the product name, manufacturer, or main ingredients on medicine labels should also be considered suspicious.
Check the manufacturing date, and expiry date and ensure any details on the outer carton match the dates shown on the inner label of the strip, blister, or bottle.
- Medicine appearance: Ensure that the medicine looks correct, any change in the size and shape with that of the earlier used medicine of the same company; ensure that the medicine is not discoloured, degraded or has an unusual smell.
If the tablets are blister-packed, ensure that all the blisters are the same. If the tablets are in a bottle then all the tablets must look the same. If tablets are found chipped or cracked or have a faulty coating such products should also be considered suspicious.
- Suspiciously low-priced products: Check the price of the product against the product you usually buy or with reputed companies. If it is substantially cheaper or offered with a huge discount, it is likely to be a fake product. Insist on a bill for the medicines purchased from a medical shop (No Bill No Pill).
- Compromised packaging: Check whether the packaging is in good condition. In certain cases, medicines which come in the original manufacturer packaging are sealed. Check whether the seals are intact and there are no signs of tampering. If the seal appears open or tampered with, it should also be considered suspicious.
If you experience any unusual health problems, including unexplained side effects or unusual allergic reactions on the use of any drug, it should also be considered suspicious.
- Place of purchase of medicines: Never purchase medicines from unregulated websites or other internet platforms. Risks to the public are significantly increased when purchasing medicines from unlicensed and unregulated sources. Medicines shall be purchased only from licensed medical shops. Medical shops ādisplay licences issued by the Drugs Control Administration, Telanganaā conspicuously, in a prominent place in the shop, open to the public. Selling medicines without a licence is an offence and medicines purchased from unlicensed premises are likely to be fake products.
The Government of India has notified 300 top brand names (under Schedule H2 of Drugs Rules), which can be found on the DCA website, manufactured after August 2023 to have a bar code or quick response code (QR code) on its primary packaging label or, in case of inadequate space in primary package label, on the secondary package label that store data or information legible with software application (QR Code reader on mobile) to facilitate authentication, as an anti-counterfeiting measure.
How to report suspected spurious drugs?
In case of suspicion that a product is fake or spurious report to the local drugs inspector or assistant director of DCA. The contact numbers and addresses are available on the DCA, Telangana website.
One can also call DCA on its toll-free number 18005996969 from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm on all working days. Medical shops in Telangana State are required to prominently display a poster bearing the details of the local drugs inspector (name, contact number, address) and the toll-free number of DCA.
