The sale and use of two batches of counterfeit medicines have been banned following the revelation that spurious international brand medicines are being manufactured and sold across Pakistan.
According to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), counterfeit drugs intended for anesthesia and for the treatment of multiple sclerosis were distributed in multiple cities across Pakistan.
The forged medicine packaging featured addresses from French and German manufacturing companies. The Drug Testing Lab Punjab has confirmed that samples of both drugs were found to be counterfeit.
As per the DRAP Recall Alert, Batch No.20158 of Ketamine Injection 500 mg, used for anesthesia, was declared spurious. The injection packet bears the address of Pan Pharma France.
Additionally, a counterfeit batch of 300 mg Ocrevus Solution for Injection, used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, was distributed under Batch No. H0041B27.
This fake product, which carries the address of Roche Diagnostics Germany, was reported by the pharmaceutical company Roche Pakistan. DRAP has released images of the counterfeit Ocrevus solution.
After investigation, Roche Global confirmed that the product available in Pakistan was spurious. Investigations revealed that the original Ocrevus, Batch No. H0041B, was supplied in Turkey in August 2020 with an expiry date of February 7, 2022. In contrast, the counterfeit product bears an expiry date of September 5, 2025.
In response, DRAP has instructed its regulatory field force to heighten vigilance across the supply chain to seize said counterfeit products. The alert has directed pharmacists, chemists, and healthcare professionals to immediately check their stocks and notify the regulatory field force, provincial health departments, and authorities about the suppliers of these products.
The alert also called on provincial governments to implement additional measures to prevent the spread of fake medicines and has urged the Punjab government to conduct a thorough investigation into the counterfeit medicine supply chain.
