The much-awaited official word of the government on the penetration of counterfeit drug in the domestic market is out. The large-scale nationwide spurious drug survey undertaken by the health ministry pronounces the Rs 55,000-crore domestic drug market largely free of spurious and sub-standard drugs. The study found that only 0.0046% of drugs in the market were spurious while the quantum of sub-standard drugs has been found to be even lower at 0.001%.
A formal announcement of the figures is likely to be made by the health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. These statistics could go a long way in rebuffing the international claims and attempts to project India as one of the largest source of counterfeit drugs.
Of the exact sample size of 24,136 collected, of which around 12% samples were tested, only 11 drugs were found to be spurious. The study is expected to identify areas where these spurious drugs were concentrated and in which the government would now devise a focused vigilance programme to be implemented. Specific places within states of Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh top the priority regions where action on the basis of report is likely to be taken in near future.
Another location in Gujarat may also face the heat on this account. Of the spurious drugs seized, 45% were found in Bihar, 27% in West Bengal, 18% in Uttar Pradesh and 0.1% had their source in Gujarat. The study to assess the magnitude and nuances of the problem of spurious drugs was designed by the Indian Statistical Institute, Hyderabad and carried out by the Drug Controller General of India?s Office. It covered 61 popular brands, nine therapeutic categories drawn from around 500 outlets, 100 each from metros, big cities, district headquarters, towns and villages.
?The objective of the all India survey was to assess the quantum of spurious drugs in the country by drawing samples from different regions and different strata in the country. The samples have been analysed and action would be taken as per the provisions of the law,? a health ministry official told FE.