New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Union Health Ministry and the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) regarding the alleged prevalence of fake medicines for liver and cancer. Officials said on Wednesday that the Commission has issued this notice regarding the alleged fake version of liver related drug ‘Defitalio’ and cancer drug ‘Adcetris’. The Commission said in a statement that if the media reports are true then it is a serious issue of human rights violation and is a matter of concern.
According to the statement, the Commission has taken ‘suo motu cognizance’ of the news that following an alert by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has issued a notification to state regulators, doctors and patients about the availability of both the drugs. People have been asked to be cautious about ‘Defitalio’ and ‘Adcetris’, because different fake versions of these medicines are in circulation in four countries including India.
It said that the Commission has issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Drug Controller General of India and sought a detailed report.
According to the statement, the report should include the current status of implementation of relevant laws to prevent the supply and sale of counterfeit versions of life-saving medicines, including ‘Defitalio’ and ‘Adcetris’.
It says that a reply is expected within four weeks. The news published on September 11 said that the product does not have marketing approval in India and Turkey.
However, counterfeit versions of liver drug ‘Defitalio’ have been found in India and Turkey, which were supplied outside the regulated and authorized system, the statement said.