DRAP issues nationwide alert over spurious drugs in market

ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued a safety alert warning healthcare professionals and the public against five falsified pharmaceutical products found in the local market.

These include two medicines falsely labeled under the names of licensed manufacturers and three product without active ingredient.

According to a DRAP notification based on laboratory findings shared by the Directorate of Drug Control Punjab (DDCP), some specific batches of the first two products — Cefim Capsule 400mg and Acefyl Cough Syrup 125mL — are being circulated under the names of two legitimate companies.

However, DRAP based on laboratory reports, clarified that these specific batches were not manufactured by the original companies, and are falsified versions imitating well-known market brands to mislead consumers and healthcare providers.

The remaining three products—DROPHA-10 Tablet, Dydrocare 10mg Tablet, and Dydroplax 10mg Tablet—purporting to contain hormone Dydrogesterone, commonly used in the treatment of menstrual irregularities and infertility, were found with active ingredient.

These have been declared not only falsified but also unauthorized, as neither the products are registered with DRAP nor are their so-called manufacturers licensed entities.

An official from DRAP stated that such falsified products are a serious threat to public health, as they may contain no active ingredient, incorrect substances.

Use of these medicines could result in treatment failure, adverse drug reactions, or potentially fatal consequences.

“These products have no legal standing and are being pushed into the market by ghost companies either exploiting the names of well-known brands or operating entirely outside the regulatory framework,” the official said.

In response to the alert, DRAP has directed its field surveillance teams and provincial drug control departments to immediately begin nationwide operations to identify and seize the falsified products.

Pharmacies, healthcare institutions, and distributors have been instructed to inspect their stocks and remove the affected batches from circulation.

DRAP has advised healthcare professionals to exercise extra vigilance and report any suspected cases of spurious drugs through the national or provincial pharmacovigilance systems.

The public is strongly urged not to use these specific batches, and anyone who has taken these medicines and experienced unusual symptoms should seek immediate medical attention and report the incident to DRAP.

Consumers are reminded to buy therapeutic products only from licensed pharmacies and verify the authenticity and packaging of any medicine in question. DRAP reiterated its commitment to ensuring safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines in Pakistan, warning that any negligence in this regard could put lives at risk.