Source: The post Make every Made in India pill safe has been created, based on the article “Reclaiming our leadership in safe drugs” published in “Financial Express” on 23rd August 2025. Make every Made in India pill safe.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.
Context: India’s pharma industry is globally vital and domestically foundational. Recent incidents and data exposing substandard and falsified medicines have triggered intense scrutiny. The article warns that credibility, public health, and hard-won access gains are at risk unless action escalates rapidly across government, industry, and society.
For detailed information on States and the Danger of Poorly Manufactured Drugs read this article here
India’s Pharma Strength and Pride
- Global supply and scale: India supplies 60% of global vaccines, 40% of US generics, and 25% of UK medicines. Exports crossed $25 billion in 2023, with over 650 FDA-approved facilities and buyers in more than 200 countries.
- Domestic access and affordability: Affordable, quality medicines support initiatives like Jan Aushadhi and Ayushman Bharat, benefiting vast populations within India.
- Trust at risk: Despite global trust, uneven quality now endangers India’s reputation as the “pharmacy of the world.”
The SF Medicines Crisis
- Prevalence and estimates: A 2023 CRISIL–ASPA study estimates about 20% of medicines sold in India may be counterfeit or substandard. WHO warns one in ten medical products in low- and middle-income countries is SF.
- Human tragedies: Ineffective chemotherapy, contaminated syrups, and misdiagnoses translate statistics into suffering for patients and families.
- International alarms: Deaths linked to Indian-made cough syrups in Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon drew global headlines and concern.
Public Health Consequences
- Resistance and treatment failure: SF drugs fuel antimicrobial resistance and make routine infections harder to treat.
- Chronic disease burden: They compromise treatment for diabetes, cancer, and heart conditions, worsening illness and outcomes.
- Erosion of trust: They corrode confidence in healthcare systems, which is hard to rebuild once lost.
Government Action So Far
- Enforcement drives: Recent raids shut illegal units and seized thousands of fake drug consignments across states.
- Surveillance upgrades: The Union health ministry is rolling out mandatory QR codes on top-selling medicines, upgrading Central Drugs Testing Laboratories, and promoting “Track and Trace.”
- First steps, not finish line: Given the scale, these actions are necessary but insufficient.
Gaps, Enforcement, and Accountability
- Awareness and access gaps: Most consumers do not know how to verify medicines. Rural areas face unlicensed pharmacies; urban markets suffer supply-chain opacity and uneven enforcement.
- Criminality and penalties: Counterfeiting is a deadly criminal act. Laws must be strengthened to treat it as endangering life, with swift, exemplary punishment.
- Coordination and gatekeeping: Central and state authorities need tighter coordination and resources. Retailers and pharmacists must verify sources and reject untraceable stock.
Industry Measures and National Call
- Technology and assurance: Companies are deploying tamper-evident packaging, advanced serialisation, and real-time tracking to block counterfeits.
- Quality culture and collaboration: Manufacturers conduct rigorous audits and quality checks, and work with regulators to flag irregularities; sustained collaboration with law enforcement is essential.
- High stakes and urgency: Counterfeits threaten Ayushman Bharat’s universal coverage goals and India’s global standing. The article urges an all-of-government, industry, and society push—acting now so every “Made in India” pill guarantees safety, efficacy, and integrity.
Question for practise:
Examine the challenges posed by substandard and falsified medicines in India and evaluate how government action, industry measures, and public awareness are addressing the crisis.
