Issues Surrounding Fake Medicines in India
Companies often advertise unverified or exaggerated health benefits of their medicines, especially in Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani products.
Inconsistent enforcement of quality standards and insufficient inspections allow substandard or fake medicines to enter the market.
The Ministry of AYUSH has faced criticism for allowing leniencies and attempts to bypass stringent quality controls, complicating effective regulation.
Balancing the need to keep medicine prices low with maintaining high manufacturing standards often leads to compromises in product quality.
Importance of Stricter Regulations and Enforcement
Stricter regulations are crucial to enforce high production standards, ensuring medicines are safe and effective for consumers.
Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945, which penalizes misleading advertisements, must be strictly enforced to prevent companies from making false claims about their products.
Enhanced inspections and consistent enforcement are necessary to prevent substandard products from reaching the market
Updating and rigorously applying regulations, can address enforcement gaps and protect public health from the risks associated with fake or substandard medicines
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