The Directorate of Drugs Control (DDC) within the Punjab Health Department has issued a Class-I “prompt alert” following the declaration of four batches of commonly used medications as spurious and substandard, based on findings from the Provincial Drug Testing Laboratory.
As per the official alert, these counterfeit products were traced back to unauthorised individuals and suppliers who are operating outside the legal pharmaceutical distribution framework.
The department has made it clear that the identified batches are not connected to the original manufacturers, even though they carry their labels.
Which medicines were found to be fake?
The medicines identified as spurious include Tablet Brexin 20 mg (batch no. 1207863, expiry February 2027), which is reportedly labeled under Chiesi Pharmaceuticals, Danzen DS Tablets (batch no. 4476, expiry July 2029), marketed under the Helix Pharma brand, Tonoflex-P (batch no. 248N105, expiry June 2027), associated with Sami Pharmaceuticals and Novidat 500 mg (batch no. 139N086, expiry May 2028), also linked to Sami Pharmaceuticals.
Officials have stated that a significant quantity of counterfeit Novidat 500 mg stock was recovered from a pharmacy located in the Raiwind Road area of Lahore (Meditrust Pharmacy), while the remaining supplies were traced back to unauthorised distributors.
In accordance with the Drugs Act of 1976, the sale and use of all identified batches have been immediately prohibited.
The Health Department has instructed all medical stores, hospitals, and wholesalers to cease distribution, segregate existing stock, and submit compliance reports to the appropriate drug inspectors.
The department has further urged patients and the general public to stop using the affected batches immediately and to obtain medicines solely from licensed pharmacies.
It has also recommended that any suspected adverse drug reactions be reported to the Provincial Pharmacovigilance Centre via the official email mss.pshealth@punjab.gov.pk or through the designated helpline.
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