Mumbai: Maharashtra FDA Launches Inspections to Combat Fake Drugs

Mumbai, 12th December 2023: In a concerted effort to tackle the sale of counterfeit drugs within the state, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Maharashtra has launched inspections on drugs imported from abroad. This strategic move aims to enhance the scrutiny of medicines entering the state and gather comprehensive information on each pharmaceutical product.

A considerable number of drug manufacturers are concentrated in the Baddi District Region of Himachal Pradesh, while significant quantities of medicines are produced in Gujarat and Uttarakhand. Wholesale and retail drug dealers in Maharashtra often procure drugs from these regions. However, concerns have been raised about the quality of some medicines arriving from these states, raising the risk of fake and substandard drugs circulating within the state.

To address this issue, the FDA has mandated all distributors to submit details of the drugs they order from abroad via email. The administration is in the process of establishing department-wise email IDs for efficient monitoring of these details. Divisional Joint Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, and Drug Inspectors are actively inspecting all drugs purchased by wholesalers and retailers.

The initiative has received positive responses from distributors, and the collected information is under rigorous scrutiny. Thus far, no instances of fake drugs have been identified during the inspections. The FDA officials have indicated that this proactive measure will be intensified in the coming days to further strengthen the control and oversight of pharmaceutical imports.