The Maharashtra government purchased eight counterfeit-drug detection machines to verify the quality of medications distributed through its health system across the state and prevent substandard or counterfeit medicines from reaching patients.
Maharashtra health minister, Prakash Abitkar, stated that this device will play a key role in efforts to combat spurious and counterfeit medicines within the state health system.
Maharashtra has already set up eight flying squads, each equipped with one such device, to monitor the quality of medicines dispensed at government hospitals and clinics across the state. These flying squads – each team consisting of one qualified pharmacist and a trained government official – will conduct monthly, random testing at various government health facilities in the state, including district hospitals, women’s hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. This also includes medicines procured through the Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation (Medical Goods Procurement Authority), district-level procurement systems and local-level purchases. Abitkar stated that while the actual regulatory enforcement regarding pharmaceuticals falls under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the health department would identify spurious and counterfeit drugs from its system and forward them to the relevant authority for action.
The device will be used only for preliminary testing; action will be taken against drug manufacturers or even government officials only after the spurious drug samples are verified at the 12 NABL-recognised testing laboratories.
Health minister Abitkar said the initiative will be instrumental in fostering greater transparency, accountability, and regular monitoring within the medicine procurement and supply process.
