Karnataka authorities have expanded their investigation into a suspected counterfeit medicine network following the seizure of fake and illegally repackaged drugs, including medicines linked to cancer treatment.
Health Department officials are examining the distribution chain and seeking to determine whether patients may have received suspected counterfeit medicines. At the same time, Health Minister U.T. Khader has said fake drugs were not supplied through government hospitals, meaning there was no need to track patients treated at those facilities on that account.
The crackdown follows an August 18 raid at an unlicensed facility near Bidadi in Bengaluru South district. Authorities seized suspected spurious medicines, packaging material, machinery and forged labels estimated to be worth about ₹5.05 crore. Investigators found that lower-cost medicines were allegedly being repackaged and relabelled as expensive medicines, including products purportedly imitating multinational brands.
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration has cancelled 16 pharmaceutical licences and suspended eight others as the investigation continues. The suspended licences include that of a Pfizer depot in Bengaluru Rural district.
Officials have also blocked the batch numbers of seized medicines to prevent further distribution. Samples have been sent to government laboratories to check their chemical composition, sterility and potency.
The department has sought reference standards from Pfizer to help laboratories, doctors and pharmaceutical companies distinguish genuine products from suspected counterfeits. The Special Investigation Team is continuing to trace the wider supply chain.