What steps is the government taking?
When any medicine is found to be fake, it should be investigated immediately. Where did it come from? Who sold it in wholesale? Who made it has to be ascertained,” said Dr Sridhar, joint director, Drug Control, Tamil Nadu.
“Before the investigation, such medicines should be removed from the shops. If you identify who made them, you can find out where the mistake happened. After that, notice should be given to the manufacturing company. An explanation should be taken from them. If any company repeatedly commits such mistakes, legal action can be initiated against them under Section 18 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,” Sridhar said.
Nataraj, president of the Tamil Nadu Drug Sales Association, said the increase in the number of fake drugs was due to the increase in the sale of online medicines.
“While selling online, a person in Kashmir can sell medicines in Tamil Nadu. We are not in a position to check whether these have been taken from the right pharma company or not,” he said.