Concerted efforts of various enforcement agencies with professional assistance and a correct assessment of the market situation is necessary to effectively check the spurious drug menace rather than just imposing capital punishment to the offenders, feels a section of the pharma industry and trade here.

Industry circles noted that the government was yet to analyze the origin, extent of damage and penetration of spurious drugs in the country and abroad.

"The whole hype on spurious drug menace in India is based on a fictitious report quoting WHO stating 35 per cent of spurious drugs originate from India. DCGI, who admits non-harmonized efforts of drug control offices in the states is a reason for the spread of spurious drugs, the extent of spurious drugs in the Indian market could be anywhere between 0.5 to 30 per cent. This clearly shows the lack of information. Instead of enacting measures to scientifically analyze, locate and eliminate the pockets of spurious drugs activity, the government has come out with capital punishment for the offenders" notes a senior industry professional.

According to Dr MD Nair, a member of the Mashelkar Committee, it was imperative to bring in the help of professional agencies in this complex issue. "A professional agency should first work out the methodology, create data and then analyze it for measures on how to book the culprits, what are the possible preventive steps and most importantly, awareness creation. The officials should assess the real situation, extent of penetration of spurious drugs, how the various agencies could be co-coordinated etc., and then the action plan should evolve" says Dr Nair.

Sources noted that apart from the efforts of Julius Ribero, the former Mumbai and Punjab police commissioner who cracked down a few select pockets of spurious drug makers as part of an initiative from the Indian Pharmaceutical Allliance (IPA), and Vijay Karan, the Delhi commissioner of Police, no significant move has been made in the country to trace and book the spurious drug manufacturers and traders.

Sources also note the existing manpower with the drug control mechanisms and their intelligence network is inadequate to counter the menace. "Lots of manpower is required in this, and special detection cells with assistance from various enforcement agencies with elaborate communication channels are required to keep track of spurious drugs. At present, most of the officials have knowledge only of licensed manufacturers. Proper information from various sources are necessary," noted an official with the drug control department.

It is to be noted that the DCGI is in the process of forming detection cells in various states to monitor the entry and origin of spurious drugs.