Bengal Chemists & Druggists Association has alleged that “imperfect competitions” among retailers to sell medicines at highly discounted prices are contributing to the rise in fake drug menace.
The association has claimed that West Bengal, as well as the country has witnessed around 47 per cent rise in counterfeit drugs in terms of value after the Covid pandemic.
“We are very worried about the huge increase in the availability of counterfeit drugs. Maximum counterfeit drugs are coming from outside the State. And, maximum amounts of sub-standard drugs are being supplied to hospitals,” said Sankha Roy Chowdhury, official spokesperson, Bengal Chemists & Druggists Association (BCDA).
BCDA, under the All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD), is a leading association of chemists and druggists in India, with a membership strength of over 40,000 in West Bengal.
Last month, drug control officials conducted searches at the premises of a medicine wholesaler in Howrah district in the State and seized counterfeit medicines worth around ₹17 lakh. The officials feared that fake medicines worth more than ₹1 crore might have already been distributed across the State. Also, fake drugs worth ₹6.6 crore were seized from Kolkata in January.
“We have immediately suspended membership of medicine wholesalers and retailers who had been caught for distributing and selling fake drugs. It is a matter of deep concern that our State as well as the country has witnessed around 47 per cent increase in counterfeit drugs in terms of value after the Covid. This surge in fake medicines poses a significant threat to public health and safety,” Roy Chowdhury said.
According to Prithwi Bose, General Secretary, Bengal Chemists & Druggists Association, there has been a huge imperfect competition among retailers to sell medicines at huge discounted prices to attract and retain customers. And it is causing small retailers to fall prey to the fake drugs rackets as they are trying to source medicines at lower costs to save their margins.
“It is very difficult for the medicine retailers too to understand the difference between real and counterfeit drugs,” said Bose.
“We are not against providing discounts in medicine as we want people to avail medicines at lower costs. Currently, the GST rates on medicine on an average stand at 12 per cent. Our association demands that GST on medicine should be withdrawn in order to lower the prices,” Roy Chowdhury pointed out.
BCDA said inadequate regulatory frameworks and insufficient enforcement have also enabled the proliferation of fake drugs. To combat this issue, the association recommended upgrading drug testing facilities in every State and ensuring adequate staffing at these facilities.
The association has started more monitoring to check the proliferation of fake drugs in West Bengal. “Central agencies should increase their quality control checking. We will be carrying out an awareness programme across the state. We also urge the general public to be more aware of the authenticity of medical shops from where they are purchasing medicines. Don’t look at discounts only, also look at the shops,” Bose added.
India has a network of nearly 12.40 lakh retail chemists and 13.5 lakh pharmacists across the country.