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In a written reply, Union Health Minister JP Nadda has informed in the Rajya Sabha that 3,104 medicines are not of standard quality. 245 medicines have been found to be fake.
JP Nadda on Drugs: The central government on Tuesday gave important information about the standard quality of medicines in Rajya Sabha. According to the news agency PTI, the Rajya Sabha was informed that out of 1,16,323 drug samples tested between April 2024 and March 2025, 3,104 drugs were not found to be standard quality, while 245 were found to be fake. In response to a question, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that according to information received from drug controllers from various states and union territories, 961 prosecution was introduced for the manufacture, sale and distribution of fake/adulterated medicines during the same period. Sharing the details, Nadda said 1,06,150 samples were tested between April 2023 to March 2024, of which 2,988 were not found of standard quality, while 282 were found to be fake. He informed that 604 cases were conducted for the manufacture, sale and distribution of fake/adulterated medicines during the same period.
This important information given
The terminology of ‘fake medicines’ has not been defined under the rules made under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and it. However, Nadda said that the Drugs and Cosmetics Act defines drugs with fake, adulterated and wrong brands, including fake drugs. A nationwide survey (2014-16) was conducted to assess the amount of ‘not of standard quality (NSQ)/fake drugs’, for which 47,012 drugs were taken from government and private sources. The construction of fake/adulterated/NSQ medicines is a punishable offense under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Nadda said, “This Act empowers the concerned licensing officers to take necessary legal action in such cases. In addition, the construction, sales and distribution of any restricted or restricted drug is also a punishable offense under the Act, and the concerned licensing authorities are authorized to take appropriate action in this regard.”
Fake medicines are fatal
The use of any fake/adulterated/NSQ medicines etc. is harmful and can adversely affect the health of the patient. The Health Minister said that sporadic complaints received about such medicines are investigated in collaboration with the concerned licensing authorities so that action can be taken. In case of samples of drug declared NSQ by drug testing laboratories under CDSCO, the manufacturer firms concerned are asked to immediately recall and stop further distribution of standard quality drugs in the market. In addition, on the basis of the results of the investigation, action is taken by the concerned licensing authorities to stop production, order to stop production, order to stop the production, license suspension/cancellation, warning letters and cause notice.
Government is implementing scheme
The government is also implementing the drug industry strengthening (SPI) scheme in the country. There are three components/sub-schemes of this scheme. The first component is a assistance (APICF) to the pharmaceutical industry for shared facilities, which includes strengthening the existing infrastructure facilities by providing financial assistance to the pharmaceutical clusters for the manufacture of shared features. It also includes restructures of pharmaceutical technology upgradation scheme (RPTUAS) to facilitate and improve the production facilities of existing small and medium pharmaceutical companies with average trading less than Rs 500 crore, so that the revised schedule M of Drug Rules, 1945-Good Manufacturing Processes (WHO-GMP) Can be done; And Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Promotion and Development Scheme (PMPDS). In addition, to strengthen the drug regulatory system in the country, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing a centrally sponsored scheme – strengthening of the drug regulatory system of the states with an approved outlay of Rs 850 crore. Nadda said that the scheme includes upgradation of existing state laboratories, establishment of new drug testing laboratories and upgradation of existing state drug control offices in the country. Under the SSDRS scheme so far, a total amount of Rs 756 crore has been released to the states and union territories as a central part and 17 new drug testing laboratories have been constructed in various states and union territories and 24 existing laboratories have been upgraded.
