Delhi sees spike in spurious drugs since Covid — BP meds, vitamins on list
According to department officials, since September 2020, around 35 to 40 such cases have been moved against distributors in Delhi's sessions courts.
'Over the years, we have collected samples and seized fake drugs from 55 distributors, many of them repeat offenders,' said an official, adding that before the pandemic, the number of such cases was lower.
Officials said that in 2020, the department had raided 4,511 units – places where a medicine is manufactured, packed, printed and sent for distribution – leading to the suspension or cancellation of licences of 369 units. The next year, the number of raids had increased to 5,041, and 480 licences were either cancelled or suspended.
Since 2022, the number of such spurious cases has seen a slight decline.
While in 2022, 4,281 units were raided and 304 had their licences cancelled or suspended, in 2023, raids were conducted at 3,806 units, of which licences of 327 were cancelled or suspended. Last year, 3,915 units were raided, of which licences of 443 were cancelled or suspended, said officials.
The reason, said officials, was proactive enforcement of the law due to an increase in the department's manpower. 'In the last two years, manpower has been strengthened significantly as we needed more people to look into such cases,' the official said.
Most of these dealers are based in Delhi, particularly Bhagirath Palace – a market famous for wholesale distribution of drugs, said officials. 'Delhi is a transit state from where vendors get drugs and send them to other states in North India,' the official said.
According to records, many of the spurious drug cases were related to medicines for hypertension, cholesterol, dermatitis and allergy, as well as Calcium and Vitamin supplements. 'These vendors also deal in spurious sanitisers, toothpaste, almond oil, injections and nutritional supplements such as Nilcobal Tablets. In many instances, plastic transparent bottles filled with transparent liquid are distributed without any label or expiry date,' the official said.
On why the number of cases saw a rise in the Covid-19 years, an official said, 'Advancement in technology when it comes to printing and packaging, often makes it difficult to differentiate between spurious and real drugs.'
Another reason behind the surge is the decentralisation of manufacturing units, the official added. 'Earlier, companies used to manufacture and distribute drugs from one destination. Now, printing, stripping and blistering of medicines takes place at different areas… in many cases, even in different states… making identification of spurious drugs a challenge.'
Top six medicines linked to spurious drug cases
Telma 40: Hypertension
Shelcal: Calcium and Vitamin D3 supplement
Rosuvas 10: Cholesterol and Triglyceride
Betnovate N cream: Eczema, Psoriasis, Dermatitis
Rosuvas F 20: Cholesterol, triglyceride
Montek LC: Allergic symptoms
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