Odisha's Fake Medicine Menace: 103 Cases Reported in 3 Years

Odisha Battles Rising Threat of Counterfeit Medicines:

During a session in the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Monday, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling revealed a growing concern over the infiltration of substandard medicines in the State. During the last three years, 103 cases of counterfeit drugs have been detected by the authorities, presenting a serious threat to public health.

Counterfeit drugs inundate the market:

The investigations conducted by the Health Department between 2022 and 2025 revealed an alarming trend, with 103 instances of substandard medicines found. This has not only impacted consumers but also destabilized the entire supply chain. Consequently, four suppliers and their related companies have been blacklisted. The cases are broken down as follows: 45 were reported in the 2022-23 financial year, 32 in 2023-24, and 26 in 2024-25.

The extensive spread of counterfeit drugs has rattled public trust in the healthcare sector. Unethical pharmaceutical players have been re-packaging substandard drugs under new brand names and distributing them throughout the market for profit.

Drugs from Other States Enter Odisha:

This issue is not specific to Odisha either. Substandard medicines originating from states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Telangana have made their way into the State’s supply chain, further complicating the fight against counterfeit drugs.

Health Minister Mahaling, responding to a query from MLA Sudhir Ranjan Pattjoshi, noted that even essential medicines like Telma AM and Telma 40 had been found to be counterfeit. This has generated severe doubts among patients who unknowingly take ineffective or even dangerous medicines.

Pandemic-Era Miseries and Government Reaction:

Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sale of spurious medicines was still a lingering danger. In a major incident, Cuttack authorities confiscated spurious drugs allegedly imported from Karnataka and Bihar. This led to the deployment of a special task force (STF) outside Odisha's limits to further investigate.

The disclosure has caused widespread alarm, particularly in rural communities where self-medication is prevalent and individuals heavily depend on over-the-counter medications. As the issue continues to worsen, there is increasing expectation about how the new administration will deal with this urgent matter and protect public health.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)