The recent seizure of a huge stock of spurious ‘Favipiravir’, a prescribed drug for Covid-19 treatment, from a chemist shop in Cuttack, has come as a major concern over the circulation of such fake life-saving medicines in the State.
Odisha Health Minister Naba Das on Sunday said that the counterfeiting business will not be tolerated. Already the health department has accelerated raids after receiving information about the procurement and distribution of Favipiravir medicines.
M/s. Medilloyd Medicament Private Limited in Kanika Chhak, Cuttack was raided on Friday by Drugs Inspectors for the purchase and stocking of spurious Favipiravir Tablets (Favimax-400), allegedly manufactured by M/s. Max Relief Health Care, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, reportedly a non-existing manufacturer.
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Out of the available stock of 17,400 tablets, 400 tablets were drawn for statutory testing and the balance 17,000 tablets were seized under the provision of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act and Rules thereunder.
The supply details of Meanwhile, Das said that the information about the supply of Favimax-400 tablets to Gwalior has been communicated to the Food & Drugs Administration, Madhya Pradesh.
“On getting information, we had raided a shop in Cuttack and seized 170 boxes of Favipiravir tablets and 27 boxes of other cold and fever medicines. The drugs have been sent to various laboratories in Bhubaneswar and Kolkata for tests,” said Das.
According to Das, already Drugs Controller and Police are taking appropriate measures to put a check on such incidents and raids are underway in different parts of the State.
“Based on the findings of the investigation and test reports, stern action will be taken against those found involved in the fake medicine business as there are clear instructions from the Chief Minister against such black marketing,” Das added.