Islamabad: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has sounded the alarm over the circulation of spurious and substandard medicines in the market, warning that their use poses a serious risk to patient safety, including life-threatening outcomes.
A senior official of DRAP confirmed that immediate surveillance and recall operations have been launched across the country to protect the public.
According to DRAP’s Division of Quality Assurance and Laboratory Testing, samples of Efaston tablets (Dydrogesterone 10mg) and Paracare suspension (Paracetamol 120mg/5ml) have been declared spurious by Provincial Drug Testing Laboratories.
Both products, purportedly manufactured by Lahore Chemical & Pharmaceutical Works (Pvt.) Ltd. and Wellcare Pharmaceuticals, Sargodha, respectively, were found to contain no active pharmaceutical ingredient, rendering them completely ineffective.
“These falsified drugs are a grave threat to patients relying on them for critical care. They lead to treatment failure, worsening of disease, and in some cases, may result in fatal outcomes,” the DRAP official said, urging the public not to use these products and to report suspicious medicines immediately.
In a separate alert, DRAP disclosed that Wisdom Powder for Injection (Ceftriaxone 500mg), manufactured by Trigon Pharmaceuticals, Lahore, has been declared substandard after failing sterility tests at the Drug Testing Laboratory Faisalabad.
Ceftriaxone is widely used for serious bacterial infections, and compromised sterility in injectable medicines can cause severe infections, sepsis, or hypersensitivity reactions. Vulnerable groups such as children, neonates, and immunocompromised patients are particularly at risk.
The senior DRAP official said regulatory field forces, in coordination with provincial drug control departments, have been ordered to confiscate falsified products and recall defective batches from pharmacies and hospitals. Pharmacies and distributors have been directed to quarantine their stocks and return affected products to suppliers.
Healthcare professionals have been asked to remain vigilant and report any adverse reactions or quality issues to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre. DRAP also reminded consumers to only purchase therapeutic goods from licensed pharmacies and carefully verify their authenticity.
“These actions are part of our ongoing commitment to safeguard national health security by ensuring that only safe, effective, and quality medicines reach patients,” the DRAP official emphasized.
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