The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has intensified its efforts to combat the distribution of illegal and counterfeit medicines across the country. The crackdown, launched under directives from federal authorities, is targeting major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad to ensure public safety by removing substandard and unregistered drugs from the market.
Inspections of pharmacies and medical stores have revealed several violations, such as the sale of overpriced or unapproved medicines. For example, Heparin injections were reportedly being sold for over four times their approved price. Additionally, DRAP has confiscated counterfeit medicines from an illegal factory in Karachi that was manufacturing and packaging fake antibiotic drugs under reputable brand names. This action underscores the severity of the threat posed by these unsafe products, which can lead to severe health risks and even fatalities.
Provincial teams have been mobilized to conduct raids and inspect pharmaceutical markets, with particular focus on ensuring compliance with drug quality standards. Legal actions are being pursued against violators under the DRAP Act, and nationwide surveillance of pharmaceutical supply chains continues to be a priority. Authorities have issued red alerts for certain batches of medicines that were found to be substandard or dangerous
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