Kolkata, 7 th March, 2025 : Bengal Chemists and Druggists Association (BCDA), under the All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) a leading association of Chemists and Druggists in India, having membership strength over 40,000 in Bengal, today expressed grave concern over the alarming increase in the availability of fake drugs in West Bengal and India. Prithwi Bose, General Secretary, Bengal Chemists & Druggists Association; Sankha Roy Chowdhury, the Official Spokesperson,
Bengal Chemists & Druggists Association, Pranab Ghosh, President- BCDA; Debashish Guha, Organising Secretary- BCDA; Prodyot Banerjee, Admin. Secretary- BCDA and Md. Irfan Khan Lodhi, Treasurer- BCDA were present at the occasion to create awareness on fake and counterfeit medicines.
Prithwi Bose, General Secretary, Bengal Chemists & Druggists Association said- “the proliferation of counterfeit medicines is a ticking time bomb, and we cannot afford to wait. We urge the government to strengthen regulatory measures, enhance enforcement, and increase public awareness to combat this menace. He appealed to all the stake holders to come forward to fight the menace of counterfeit drugs.”
He further added that, “BCDA is calling for a multi-stakeholder approach to address this issue, including collaboration with regulatory agencies, law enforcement, healthcare professionals and public in general. BCDA thinks, lure of higher discounts is one of the major reasons for the increase in percentage of fake drugs in West Bengal.”
BCDA has recently identified several cities as the hotspots where the production of spurious and counterfeit drugs is alarmingly high. These illicit drugs often originate from unlicensed individuals, while licensed manufacturers may also be involved. The states’ weak regulatory infrastructure, insufficient testing facilities, lack of a whistle-blower scheme, low awareness, and absence of special courts are significant barriers to effective action against spurious drugs. BCDA urges authorities at both state and central government levels to take immediate action to address this issue, specifically, stepping up vigilance in identified hotspot cities to prevent the production and distribution of spurious and counterfeit drugs in the country.
The official spokesperson of Bengal Chemists & Druggists Association, Sankha Roy Chowdhury said- “The issue of counterfeit drugs is critical, affecting both public health and the reputation of the country’s pharmaceutical trade. Prompt and prioritised action is essential. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, few years back, at least 10% medicines in low- and middle-income countries are substandard or counterfeit. In the last couple of years, the number has increase almost 47% and is expected to be around 15% of the total medicines available in the market are fake or counterfeit or illegal. This surge poses a significant threat to public health and safety.”
Key concerns highlighted by the BCDA include:
Risk to Public Health: Fake drugs can be ineffective, toxic, or even fatal, putting
patients’ lives at risk.
Economic Burden: The illegal trade in counterfeit medicines drains the economy
and undermines legitimate business.
Lack of Regulation: Inadequate regulatory frameworks and insufficient
enforcement enable the proliferation of fake drugs.
To combat this issue, the BCDA recommends:
Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks: Enhancing laws and regulations to
prevent the manufacture, distribution, and sale of counterfeit medicines.
Increasing Public Awareness: Educating consumers about the risks associated
with fake drugs and the importance of purchasing medicines from authorized
sources.
Collaboration and Coordination: Fostering partnerships among regulatory
agencies, law enforcement, and healthcare professionals to share intelligence, best
practices, and resources.
Enhance Testing facilities: upgrade drug testing facilities and ensure adequate
staffing
Establish Special Courts: Set up special courts for speedy trials of drug related
offences
The BCDA is committed to working with stakeholders to address the growing threat of fake drugs and ensure access to safe, effective, and authentic medicines for all. India has a network of nearly 12.40 lakh retail chemists and 13.5 lakh pharmacists across the country. As a responsible trade organization, BCDA regularly issues guidelines and conducts technical seminars for shop owners, urging them to source their products from reputed vendors, avoid selling antibiotics without valid prescriptions, and to adhere strictly to the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules.
