DRAP Issues Urgent Alert: 17 Dangerous Fake Medicines Found in Pakistan Markets
Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Authority (DRAP) has issued an urgent warning about 17 dangerous fake medicines discovered in local markets. These counterfeit drugs include antibiotics, nasal sprays, anti-allergic medications, stomach medicines, and pain relievers that pose serious health risks to consumers.
What Makes These Medicines Dangerous?
The Punjab Drug Testing Laboratory declared 18 batches of these 17 medicines as completely fake and dangerous. These counterfeit drugs were manufactured in illegal factories without proper quality control or safety standards.
Types of Fake Medicines Found:
- Stomach disease medications – treating digestive disorders
- Throat infection treatments – for sore throat and related conditions
- Fungal infection medicines – antifungal treatments
- Prostate disorder drugs – men’s health medications
- Women’s health medicines – gynecological treatments
- Pain relief medications – for general body pain
- Joint inflammation drugs – arthritis and joint pain treatments
- Allergy medicines – antihistamines and allergy relief
- Neuropathy treatments – nerve disorder medications
- Sleep aid tablets – sedatives and tranquilizers
How Criminals Created These Fake Drugs
The fake medicines were produced using counterfeit labels from well-known national and multinational pharmaceutical companies. The criminals used addresses from Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad on the packaging to make them appear legitimate.
Red Flags to Watch For:
- Medicines sold at unusually low prices
- Packaging that looks different from original brands
- No proper manufacturing details on labels
- Suspicious pharmacy locations or unlicensed sellers
- Missing batch numbers or expiry dates
Health Risks and Dangers
Recent DRAP findings revealed that over 50% of life-saving medication samples tested were fake, including critical drugs used in treating mental illnesses and infections. These fake medicines pose serious health threats because:
- Unknown ingredients – No confirmation of what chemicals are actually inside
- No quality standards – Manufactured without proper safety measures
- Life-threatening effects – Could cause severe health complications or death
- Treatment failure – Won’t cure the actual medical condition
- Drug resistance – May make future treatments less effective
Immediate Actions Taken by Authorities
DRAP has ordered regulatory forces to immediately seize these fake medicine batches from all markets across Pakistan. The authority declared these drugs counterfeit under Section 3 of the Drug Act 1976.
Official Response Measures:
- Market seizure – Immediate removal of fake medicines from pharmacies
- Distributor warnings – Instructions to medical stores about identification
- Reporting system – Process for citizens to report suspicious medicines
- Legal action – Criminal proceedings against manufacturers and sellers
How to Protect Yourself
Citizens must be extremely careful when purchasing medicines. Always buy medications from licensed pharmacies and verify their authenticity before use.
Safety Guidelines for Consumers:
- Purchase medicines only from licensed, reputable pharmacies
- Check packaging carefully for signs of tampering or poor quality
- Verify batch numbers and expiry dates on all medications
- Report suspicious medicines immediately to DRAP authorities
- Consult qualified pharmacists when in doubt about medicine authenticity
- Keep original prescriptions and medicine receipts for verification
Reporting Suspicious Medicines
The public is strongly advised not to use these purported drug products and to report any suspicious or unverified medicines to DRAP immediately. Quick reporting helps prevent other people from using dangerous fake medicines.
This urgent alert demonstrates the serious threat that counterfeit medicines pose to public health in Pakistan. Citizens must remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families from these dangerous fake drugs.
