64 types of fake drugs  seized in six months

VIJAYAWADA: Officials of the Drug Control Authority have seized samples of 64 types of drugs worth `1.7 crore from April to October from various medical shops in the State. Officials say that agents from Roorkee and Uttarakhand are supplying these fake medicines to the shops. “Everything in the market right from food to water is adulterated and consuming them will lead to serious health problems. The saddest part is even medicines are being tampered with. How a common man is supposed to identify the fake medicines?” said B Koteswararao, a worker, who recently lodged a complaint with the Drug Control Authority.

Upon receiving complaints from the people like Koteswara Rao, officials of the DCA conducted raids at various drug stores across the State. Officials found 64 fake medicines during the raids conducted from April to October. After the seizure, the officials ordered closure of the companies which are manufacturing theses fake medicines.

“Majority of these medicines are coming from the companies based in Roorkee and Uttarakhand. Through some suppliers, the fake medicines are reaching Hyderabad and from there, they are entering the State. Majority of the fake drugs are available in Vijayawada and Guntur. Some of our officials have also gone to inspect the drug companies in Roorkee and Uttarakhand and also filed a chargesheet against those companies,” said P Rambabu, Assistant director of Drug Control Authority, Krishna district. “We have given notices to all the wholesale dealers to handover the fake drugs to the DCA officials,” he added.