The DRAP counterfeit medicines alert has raised fresh concerns after the regulator said several commonly used medicines circulating in Punjab were found to be fake or substandard and potentially dangerous to human health.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan identified six medicines that failed laboratory testing. Officials said specific batches were either counterfeit, spurious or substandard and had been manufactured outside registered pharmaceutical facilities.
DRAP has ordered the immediate removal of the affected medicines from the market and directed authorities to confiscate available stock of the flagged batches.
Provincial drug inspectors have been told to seize the medicines from medical stores, pharmacies and distributors across the region. The move reflects the seriousness of the safety risk identified in laboratory testing.
Among the products named is Glantrim, an eye drop used to treat glaucoma. DRAP said Batch No. LZ010K was found to be substandard and may pose a serious risk to vision.
Various batches of three medicines related to pregnancy and women’s health were declared forged. In addition, Batch No. HH003L of TerbidermForte Tablet, an antifungal medicine, was identified as spurious.
An injection used in hormone therapy and tissue repair was also listed as fake, adding to the scale of the warning.
DRAP has asked the public to verify batch numbers and registration details before using medicines.
People have also been encouraged to report any suspected counterfeit or unsafe products to the authorities. That guidance is especially important because some of the medicines involved are used in sensitive treatment areas, including eye care, infection control and women’s health.
The latest alert highlights the wider danger posed by counterfeit and substandard medicines in the supply chain. When such products reach pharmacies and distributors, they can expose patients to ineffective treatment or direct health risks.
DRAP’s priority is to remove the affected stock from circulation and prevent further use of the flagged batches. The alert also serves as a reminder for consumers and health professionals to remain vigilant about the authenticity of medicines.
