India to assess incidence of fake drugs
India expects to be able to project clear statistics on counterfeit drugs, thus clarifying its position with scientific evidence
India is proposing to carry out a country-wide survey using methodology prepared by the Indian Statistical Institute, Hyderabad to assess the prevalence of counterfeits and substandard drugs. In the proposed survey, around 42,000 samples would be drawn from across the country, which would include 15 therapeutic categories of drugs listed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), 2011.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has started collection of samples in 15 categories of drugs, including antibiotics, as part of the survey. Around 1,000 drug inspectors from across the country have been trained for the pan India initiative. The project would have drug samples drawn from healthcare institutions and retail pharmacies to assess the quality of drugs available to the end user.
An earlier survey conducted by the ministry of health in 2009 to assess the extent of counterfeit drugs in the country apparently revealed that the proportion of products found to be fake was only 0.046%.
Through this joint effort between the state and the centre, India expects to be able to project clear statistics on counterfeit drugs, thus clarifying India's position with scientific evidence.
