Low Conviction Hinders Fight Against Spurious Drugs

Spurious drugs can have harmful side-effects and can even kill. Yet India has been able to decide only 35 cases of the 606 prosecutions launched against the manufacture, sale and distribution of spurious or adulterated drugs from 2015 to 2018, according to figures provided by the Drug Controller.

 

During this time, 328 arrests were made. 15,749 samples were declared not of standard quality and 593 samples were declared spurious or adulterated, while a total of 2,33,906 drug samples were tested during the three-year period.

 

‘Sample size inadequate’

 

The 54th Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers noted that “considering the size of the country and the huge quantum of medicines being distributed and sold in the country, this sample size is not adequate to measure the actual problem of spurious and non-standard quality drugs in the country.

 

Special courts sought

 

“We are dismayed to note that the decision is pending in most cases. There is an urgent need for time-bound decisions on prosecutions launched against manufacture, sale and distribution of spurious and non-standard quality drugs. Special courts should be opened in all states/UT and these courts may also impressed upon the need for timely disposal of cases,” the Committee noted.

 

Under the Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Act 2008, any drug is deemed to be adulterated or spurious when used by any person for or in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of any disease or disorder is likely to cause his death or is likely to cause such harm on his body.

 

“Previously the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had conducted a country-wide survey for the years 2014-16 to determine the extent of spurious/ not of standard quality of drugs in the country. Total 47,012 drug samples were tested/analysed out of which 1,850 samples were declared as not of standard quality and 13 samples were declared spurious,” noted data provided by the Union Health Ministry.

 

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Committee has strongly recommended that the government take adequate measures to considerably increase the number of samples of drugs to be tested so as to instil fear in those who indulges in sale/distribution of spurious/non-standard quality drugs. The Hindu