India still ranked second in the case of counterfeit drugs world over, though the awareness about the spurious drugs has increased over 200 per cent in the recent years, according to a US-based security expert dealing with counterfeit drugs.

President and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI) in America Tom Kubic called for increasing public awareness and sterner enforcement of laws to counter the spurious drugs trade across the world. Referring to the initiatives planned by India to launch barcoding for exports of drugs to check spurious drugs menace, he suggested it as one of the best available technological options.

“The counterfeit drug issue warrants a broad and international response with all stakeholders, especially law enforcement, at the table. We need to educate consumers and identify meaningful solutions that apply to every nation and region across the globe,” he told Pharmabiz during his recent visit to Delhi. He said the institute has been cooperating with official agencies and US FDA regularly on the subject of counterfeit drugs.

A former director of Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Kubic said last year his institute had identified 808 cases of counterfeit drugs world over based on the inputs and complaints forwarded by the leading 25 pharma companies and institutions which are part of the institute. China ranked first while India came second and Pakistan stood third, he said without giving the exact number of cases from India.

Based on the inputs and different indicators put in place by the institute, it found that the public awareness about counterfeit drugs in India has grown up by 265 per cent in 2009 compared to the levels in 2008.  This was due to increased vigilance and better regulatory framework, he said.

Talking about technological options world over, he said different countries adopted different options like holograms, unique numbering and barcodes, but all these tools have their own limitations too along with positive factors. However, barcoding is a comparatively a better option, he suggested.

Union commerce ministry is planning to make the barcode technology compulsory for all exports of pharmaceutical products from the country, in the wake of blown up apprehensions about the exports of spurious drugs from India. The ministry has finalised barcode as the best option after consultations with the industry.