How Fake Medicines Enter the Hospital Supply Chain

Recent investigations have revealed a concerning trend of counterfeit medicines infiltrating India’s pharmaceutical supply chain and hospitals. Incidents across various regions have highlighted the pervasive issue of spurious drugs circulating widely, from the national capital, New Delhi, to major cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, and rural areas.

During one investigation, in March this year, Delhi Police dismantled a major counterfeit drug operation selling fake cancer medications, which led to the arrest of seven individuals, including two staff members from a cancer hospital. The perpetrators had been manufacturing the fraudulent drugs in apartments in New Delhi, from where they distributed them across India, China, and the US at prices ranging from £1,000 to £3,500 per vial. Authorities seized 140 vials of bogus cancer treatments with an estimated market value of £400,000.

While this was going on, the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) in the southern state of Telangana was uncovering fake medicines comprising chalk powder and starch sold under the fictitious brand Meg Lifesciences.