Pharmaceutical Industry and the Financial Impact of Spurious Drugs: IPA's Stance

New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) The pharmaceutical industry faces significant challenges due to spurious drugs, which the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) deems critical to address. IPA emphasizes the financial impact and reputational damage that arises from the confusion between spurious and sub-standard drugs. According to a recent report by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), more than 50 products were identified as not of standard quality (NSQ).

Major firms, such as Sun Pharma and Torrent Pharma, argue the flagged medicines are counterfeit, asserting their products meet necessary quality standards. The linking of spurious products to legitimate manufacturers poses threats to public health and undermines India's global position as a reliable medicine supplier.

IPA's Secretary General Sudarshan Jain stressed the urgency of establishing distinct definitions between NSQ and spurious drugs. Given India's role as a global pharmaceutical manufacturing hub, protecting public health and enhancing the sector's credibility is paramount. IPA is committed to collaborating with the government to fortify systems against spurious drugs.

The CDSCO’s latest drug alert for August identified various medications, including high blood pressure treatments and antibiotics, as not meeting standard quality requirements. This issue is crucial not just for public health safety but also for maintaining India’s reputation in the global pharmaceutical market.