On Sunday, Odisha Health Minister Naba Das stated that counterfeiting will not be permitted. After obtaining information on the acquisition and distribution of Favipiravir drugs, the health department has already stepped up raids.
The recent capture of a large stock of bogus ‘Favipiravir,’ a recommended drug for Covid-19 treatment, from a Cuttack pharmacist shop has raised serious concerns about the spread of such counterfeit life-saving drugs in the state.
400 tablets were drawn for statutory testing from the available stock of 17,400 tablets, and the remaining 17,000 tablets were confiscated under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules thereunder.
Meanwhile, Das stated that information on the delivery of Favimax-400 tablets to Gwalior has been sent on to the Madhya Pradesh Food and Drug Administration.
On Friday, Drugs Inspectors searched M/s. Medilloyd Medicament Private Limited at Kanika Chhak, Cuttack, for the purchase and stocking of bogus Favipiravir Tablets (Favimax-400), supposedly manufactured by M/s. Max Relief Health Care, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, a non-existent company.
“We raided a business in Cuttack after receiving information and confiscated 170 boxes of Favipiravir tablets and 27 boxes of other cold and fever medication. The medications have been submitted to Bhubaneswar and Kolkata facilities for testing. Strong action will be taken against individuals found involved in the bogus medicine business based on the findings of the investigation and test reports since there are explicit orders from the Chief Minister against such black marketing,” Das added.
According to Das, the Drugs Controller and Police are already taking steps to prevent such incidents, and raids are taking place in various regions of the state.
