The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued a rapid alert regarding three medicines, imposing an immediate ban on their sale and use across the country.
The action comes amid an ongoing crackdown against the illegal trade of counterfeit medicines. According to DRAP, three drug batches have been declared fake following testing by the Central Drug Laboratory Karachi and the Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) Punjab.
The banned medicines include Taqseen Pain Tablets (Batch 091) and Pain Nil Tablets (Batch 01). DRAP stated that these medicines were illegally manufactured and supplied by Live Healthcare Lab and Hakeem Purana Dawakhana, Karachi, both of which do not hold valid drug manufacturing licenses.
In addition, a batch of the widely used gastrointestinal medicine Duphalac Syrup (Batch No. 251986) has also been declared counterfeit. Although the label on the fake syrup mentions Abbott Pharma Canada, the manufacturer Highnoon Pharma has officially disowned the affected batch.
DRAP warned that the use of counterfeit medicines can be life-threatening and may seriously compromise treatment outcomes. The authority has directed its regulatory enforcement teams to identify suppliers involved in distributing fake medicines and seize the affected batches from the market.
DRAP has also instructed distributors and medical stores to remain vigilant and ensure that only safe and approved medicines are supplied to the public.
