Merchants of Death Infiltrate Hospitals

Is there a collusion in the purchase of fake medicines in some government hospitals in Maharashtra?

- DR VIJAY DARDA

Fake medicines have existed for ages, but in today's era of advanced technology and artificial intelligence, if they go undetected and are even procured by the government hospitals, the indication is clear that there is a nexus! If the merchants of death selling fake drugs have successfully infiltrated government hospitals, it is an extremely serious situation.

I commend Maharashtra's medical education minister Hasan Mushrif for not hiding this harsh reality and openly admitting it in the state Assembly. In reply to a written question by MLA Mohan Mate, he acknowledged that fake medicines were purchased in some government hospitals. Naturally, this raises a pressing question in everyone's mind as to how it is possible for government hospitals to buy fake or spurious drugs? These hospitals operate within a government-regulated system designed to ensure that the medicines procured are genuine. Detecting counterfeit drugs should not be difficult, especially when the entire world knows that the market for such medicines is expanding rapidly, necessitating heightened vigilance.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the global counterfeit drug market is worth around $200 billion (over Rs 17 lakh crore at current exchange rates). Estimating the scale of this illegal trade in India is difficult because there is no clear data on where these fake medicines are being manufactured and sold.