Pharmacies under fire: Over 2 lakh fake drugs seized, licences at risk in Kerala crackdown
Thiruvananthapuram: In a major crackdown on counterfeit medicines, Kerala's Drugs Intelligence Wing seized fake drugs worth over Rs two lakh during simultaneous raids conducted across various districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Kozhikode.
The operation follows Health Minister Veena George's directions to officials to take stringent action against those selling fake medicines.
Acting on her instructions, inspections led by the Drugs Controller uncovered counterfeit versions of several major branded drugs, prompting the state to widen its investigation to other states.
Legal action has been initiated against two pharmas in Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram after they were found to have purchased and stocked fake medicines for sale, PTI reported.
Medical Dialogues reported earlier in November that over 400 kg of fake drugs seized and 14 arrests made across multiple districts in Kerala. The illicit consignment was reportedly being moved in refrigerated trucks and hidden among legitimate pharmaceutical supplies, raising urgent concerns about public health and regulatory oversight in the state.
In October, the Delhi Drugs Control Department also launched a citywide inspection drive to detect and eliminate fake or substandard medicines used for treating fever, cold, cough, and flu-like symptoms amid the seasonal surge in viral infections and respiratory illnesse.
