The All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD), a prominent association of chemists and druggists in India with over 40,000 members in Bengal, is the parent organization of the Bengal Chemists and Druggists Association (BCDA). The BCDA voiced serious concerns about the startling rise in the availability of counterfeit drugs in West Bengal and throughout India.

Shri Prithwi Bose, General Secretary, Bengal Chemists & Druggists Association; Shri Sankha Roy Chowdhury, the Official Spokesperson, Bengal Chemists & Druggists Association, Mr. Pranab Ghosh, President- BCDA; Debashish Guha, Organising Secretary- BCDA; Prodyot Banerjee, Admin. Secretary- BCDA and Md. Irfan Khan Lodhi, Treasurer- of BCDA graced the occasion to create awareness of fake and counterfeit medicines.

Recently, the BCDA designated several cities as hotspots with dangerously high levels of spurious and counterfeit drug production. Although licensed manufacturers may also be involved, unlicensed individuals are frequently the source of these illegal drugs. Effective action against counterfeit drugs is severely hampered by the states’ inadequate testing facilities, regulatory framework, lack of a whistleblower program, low awareness, and lack of special courts. To stop the manufacture and distribution of fake and counterfeit medications in the nation, BCDA calls on state and federal authorities to act quickly to address this issue, particularly by increasing vigilance in designated hotspot cities.

The BCDA has identified several major concerns, including the possibility that counterfeit medications could endanger patients’ lives by being toxic, ineffective, or even lethal. The illicit trade in fake medications depletes the economy and threatens respectable companies. The spread of counterfeit medications is made possible by weak enforcement and inadequate regulatory frameworks.

The BCDA suggests strengthening laws and regulations to stop the production, sale, and distribution of fake medications to address this problem. They want to educate customers on the dangers of counterfeit medications and the significance of only buying medications from approved suppliers. BCDA wants to establish collaborations between law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and medical professionals to exchange resources, best practices, and intelligence. Another step is to modernize drug testing facilities and make sure there is enough staff. They also want to create special courts to expedite drug-related offense trials.

To combat the growing threat of counterfeit medications and guarantee that everyone has access to safe, reliable, and genuine medications, the BCDA is dedicated to collaborating with stakeholders. There are approximately 12.40 lakh retail chemists and 13.5 lakh chemists in India. As a responsible trade association, BCDA frequently conducts technical seminars and issues guidelines to shop owners, advising them to strictly follow the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, source their products from reputable vendors, and refrain from selling antibiotics without a valid prescription.

Priyanka Dutta