Some of the recent studies on the spurious drugs trade in the country projecting high quantum and causing damage to the image of the Indian pharma industry across the globe were conducted 'unscientifically' and not based on facts, if the information collected by the Health Ministry is any indication.
Referring to the recent reports by the London-based International Policy Network and Business Monitor International that quoted India as the major contributor of fake drugs, health ministry sources said, the reports were based on the earlier report by trade body Assocham which suggested that spurious drugs were growing at 20-25 per cent.
“The report of Assocham is not based on any survey or findings but has taken into account merely the drop in annual turnover by about 25 per cent of the original manufacturers to draw the conclusions,” a Health Ministry official said, while reiterating that such reports were baseless and unscientific. Besides the foreign media, NGOs, multinational companies, even the WHO had quoted this report, projecting India as supplier of fake medicines while the fact was contrary, the official said.
The drugs samples tested all over the country during the last five years revealed that approximately 0.3 per cent to 0.4 per cent of around 40,000 samples tested per annum were found spurious. A recent survey carried out by Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) on the basis of the statistical principles provided by Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Hyderabad to assess more accurate extent of spurious drugs in the country has revealed that the extent of spurious drugs is further much below this level (about 0.045 per cent), he said.
It may be recalled that the associations like SME Pharma Industries Confederation (SPIC) representing the small scale units have been alleging conspiracy by large scale manufacturers behind such damaging reports that brought huge harm to the image of the domestic industry.
Meanwhile health ministry official also said the government had initiated a number of steps to contain the spurious drugs trade and increased surveillance and monitoring in the markets. Cases of import of bulk drugs from unregistered sources originating from China have recently been detected and were handed over to the CBI. The companies involved are J B Khokhani & Co, Envee Drugs Private Limited, Sheetal Pharma, and C J Shah & Co. Three other such cases are also being handed over to the CBI for investigation. Apart from the raids in Mumbai recently, the CDSCO North Zone officials conducted raids in 12 shops at Bhagirath Place of New Delhi, which is known for counterfeit products, sources said.