KARACHI, April 11: The sale of substandard smuggled medicines has increased in the city, as they are easily available at cheap rates at almost all medical stores. People buy such medicines without knowing the manufacturing country and the hazards of such drugs because of low prices. These medicines are smuggled mainly from China, Turkey and India.

A chemist said that the prices of these medicines are less than those of Pakistani medicines. He said that a packet of Zocor tablet smuggled from China is available at Rs200, while Pakistan-made Zocor tablet’s packet costs Rs680. Similarly, Zantac is smuggled from China, while Blestic, Clomid, Magnoprol tablets and Tetarex injection are smuggled from Turkey and India.

According to a market survey, medicines which had been banned by the government are also available in the market such as Viagra. Now alternate capsules are available with the same chemical formula as Viagra.

Another chemist stated that Timejak injection, which was also banned by the government after being used by drug addicts, is now available in the market, but not at its original cost. Its real price is Rs180, but it’s being sold at Rs680.

He said that chemists create artificial shortage of medicines which are used in emergency cases such as Phenobarbitone, Deblontson (for head injuries) and Largectil (for mental health). Chemists used this situation to increase the prices of such medicines.

When contacted, Syed Sardar Ahmed, Sindh Minister of Health, said that he wanted to “make it clear that medicines smuggled from China and other countries are not only substandard but are also expired.” He said that it is the duty of the federal government and agencies concerned to stop smuggling of medicines. The minister added that his department is making amendments in the Drug Act and other rules to stop the sale of smuggled and expired medicines.

Dr Abdul Majid, Secretary Public Health, said that though smuggling of medicines was still going on, the government is taking steps to combat smuggling by introducing new rules for medical stores of Sindh. Under these rules, chemists would have to show warranty bills, he said, adding that these rules will control the sale of smuggled medicines to some extent.—PPI