Paracetamol declared fake by drug testing lab

The federal laboratory issued its report on Thursday.

KARACHI: The sickly sweet Paracetamol syrup mothers across the city use to treat their children’s fever was declared fake by the central drug testing laboratory.

The laboratory, run under the federal health ministry, found two medicines to be fake. Right now, there are more than 300 medicine samples that are being tested in the laboratory.

Drug inspectors in Karachi had obtained samples of common medicines being sold in the market to test their validity and quality. These included the Paracetamol syrup, which many families turn to when their children have the common cold, and Duphaston, which is imported from abroad to treat menstrual disorders.

The samples were sent to the laboratory on December 24 and on January 6, the lab issued its reports. Both medicines were declared fake in the report, which carries the signature of federal government analyst Dr Abid Ali.

The report stated that the Paracetamol syrup sample did not contain the chemical Paracetamol. The syrup made by a local company and sold in the markets is fake and has no affect on fever. Similarly, the tablets used to treat menstrual problems were also fake. The medicine is even registered with the authorities but chemical analysis showed it is completely ineffectual.

Last week, the drug testing laboratory had declared that some of the medicines being sold to patients from the Jinnah hospital’s pharmacy were substandard. The hospital management, however, has yet to carry out any action against the persons involved in the counterfeiting.

2010 achievements

Last year, around 10,177 medicines’ samples were sent to the drug testing laboratory. These drugs included medicines made by several pharmaceutical companies that were being sold in the local markets and 8,791 medicine samples were declared to be of satisfactory quality while 341 were declared substandard, 133 as fake, seven drugs were said to be adulterated while 241 medicines were found to be unregistered.

The annual report also stated that 52 herbal and homeopathic medicines contained allopathic chemicals and ingredients, which is illegal and a clear violation of the drug act.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2011.