The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued a nationwide alert after laboratory tests found that samples of four medicines are fake and they did not contain their declared active ingredients, raising concerns about patient safety.
The department issued the alert on 21 October 2026, following tests conducted by the Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) in Karachi.
According to the alert, the manufacturers concerned reportedly denied producing the samples, raising suspicions that the products were falsified.
DRAP has identified the following medicines and batch numbers in its alert:
· Velosef 500mg capsules — Batch No. LX3E
· Augmentin 625mg tablets — Batch No. YT9D
· No-Spa Forte 80mg tablets — Batch No. AN010
· Mucaine suspension — Batch No. 257A088
The authority warned that falsified medicines may fail to treat the conditions for which they are prescribed and could expose patients to serious health risks.
Following the laboratory findings, DRAP directed its regulatory teams and provincial drug control departments to inspect medicine supply chains and seize products from the identified batches.
Pharmacies and healthcare professionals have also been instructed to remain vigilant and report suspicious medicines to the relevant authorities.
The alert is intended to help prevent the distribution and use of the affected products while regulatory authorities investigate the matter.
Patients who have purchased any of the listed medicines should check the batch number on the packaging and seek advice from a pharmacist or healthcare professional if it matches one of the identified batches.
They should not stop or change prescribed treatment without consulting a qualified healthcare professional. Suspected falsified medicines should be reported to the relevant drug control authorities.
DRAP’s alert concerns the specific batches listed above; it does not, by itself, establish that every batch of these medicines is falsified.
