Kolkata: While non-standard quality (NSQ) drugs are being detected on a regular basis, the quantity published by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for Jan is among the highest in recent times. The Bengal Chemists and Druggists Association (BCDA) said the trend began post Covid, with a 47% increase after the pandemic. The organisation stated that most of these fake drugs are manufactured in other states.
"The proliferation of counterfeit medicine is a ticking time bomb. We urge the government to strengthen measures, enhance enforcement, and increase public awareness to combat the menace. BCDA is calling for a multi-stakeholder approach to address this issue, including collaboration with regulatory agencies, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and the public in general," said BCDA general secretary Prithwi Bose on Friday.
The organisation, which has over 40,000 members in Bengal, blamed the ‘discount competition' on medicine and the imposition of GST as the main reasons for the increase in such spurious drugs. "Around 15% of the total medicine available in the market is estimated to be fake, counterfeit, or illegal. This surge poses a significant threat to public health and safety," said BCDA spokesperson Shankha Roy Choudhury. BCDA on Friday organized a press meet to announce its plan to raise awareness.
Retailers and wholesalers claimed that there is a specific margin for the retailers at 16% (for controlled medicines) and 20% (for decontrolled medicines). Wholesalers get a margin of 8% and 10%, respectively. "Any retailer who is offering very high margins needs to be scrutinized by the customers. A section of retailers, in a bid to offer more discounts to capture the market, procure medicines from unauthorized sources," said Rajiv Singhal, general secretary of the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD).
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