Counterfeit medicines
Drive against
this malpractice after long
intervals will
not help; constant vigilance is required
It is very much disturbing to note that production and sale of counterfeit medicines are going on in the country, exposing the consumers to serious health hazards. A few corrupt people are earning hefty amounts of money caring a fig for the public health. A few years back fake Paracetamol syrup produced by a dubious medicine company caused the deaths of many children. The persons responsible for the tragedy were brought to justice after a long time.
According to a report in this newspaper on Sunday, the government has realised Tk 6.66 lakh in fine and destroyed counterfeit medicines worth Tk 17 crore through conducting mobile courts as its has taken a strong stance against the marketing and selling of substandard and counterfeit medicines in the country. Some 2,169 cases were also filed by mobile courts for producing and selling adulterated and counterfeit medicines in 2016. Such measures deserve appreciation but more such stringent measures are needed in the interest of protecting public health.
Cheating of this nature is going on taking advantage of the lax vigilance by the relevant authorities. It is the responsibility of the Drug Administration Department to keep a vigil so that adulterated and fake medicines cannot be produced and sold in the market. There are allegations that the persons responsible for producing and selling fake medicines get released from jail within a short time in exchange for hefty amounts of money they pay to those influential in the administration. It is ultimately the innocent medicines consumers who bear the brunt of the situation.
There is no scope to show leniency to the producers of fake medicines who play with the lives of the innocent people. Drive against this malpractice once in a blue moon will not do; constant vigilance is required. Deterrent punishment can stop this misdeed, much to the relief of the medicine consumers.
It is heartening to note that the government has taken an initiative to set up model pharmacies across the country, aiming at stopping the sale of counterfeit, fake and substandard medicines. Seven such pharmacies have already been approved in Dhaka city. Each divisional headquarters, district and upazila will also have the model pharmacies. More such positive measures should be taken for the benefit of the common people. Besides, generation of public awareness against intake of fake medicines is the need of the hour.
