The Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) has declared medicines of seven pharmaceutical companies as fake, claiming that some of the medicines may contain toxic and intoxicating/psychotropic ingredients in unacceptable quantities that can be fatal.
According to a report by The INQUIRER, the medicines of these companies were being sold in the market but product license numbers were never allotted to these products, and even the addresses of the pharmaceutical companies mentioned on the medicines were fake.
According to documents signed by DTL Sindh Director Syed Adnan Rizvi, the laboratory-tested medicines taken by various provincial drug inspectors and products of seven pharmaceutical companies that do not exist, whose manufacturing licenses and registration numbers were fake and were declared fake due to the lack of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
The medicines included 250 mg capsules of Eyosef (used to treat bacterial infections, including upper respiratory infections, ear infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections) manufactured by M/S East Pharmaceuticals, Lahore.
Similarly, three suspensions including Alcoxime Suspension [used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body] manufactured by M/S Alpine Laboratories (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi, Milixime Suspension manufactured by M/S Menakline Pharma, Karachi, and Mirzpan Suspension manufactured by M/S Miraz Pharma, Kasur were also found to be fake.
Mirzolam tablets (used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety due to depression) from M/S Miraz Pharma were also found to be fake.
The documents reveal that Lexopam tablets [used to treat panic disorders and severe anxiety] from M/S Porm Pharmaceuticals, Peshawar, Zionex tablets (used to treat panic disorders and anxiety) from M/S Multicare Pharmaceutical Karachi, and Bromalex (used to treat panic disorders and severe anxiety) from M/S Brom Pharmaceuticals Lahore were also found to be counterfeit.
Risk Statements
The documents shared with health centers, health authorities, and pharma manufacturers associations state that the consequences of using fake/counterfeit medicines can be serious as these medicines may contain toxic and addictive/psychotropic ingredients in unacceptable quantities, which can be life-threatening.
The document further states that these medicines are manufactured in unhygienic conditions without proper inspection and approval and are extremely harmful to human health. Poor quality medicines compromise the treatment of diseases and can further worsen the existing conditions.
