Fake Medicines Cause Panic in Hyderabad – Serious Risk to Public Health

Fake medicines are causing serious worry in Hyderabad. Officials found that these fake drugs are not just made in northern cities like Kashipur (Uttarakhand), Ghaziabad, and Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), but are also being made inside Hyderabad. These fake medicines look like popular and costly branded ones that many people usually buy.

Instead of real ingredients, some of these tablets are made using substances like chalk powder, corn flour, or potato starch. Some pills have less than the required amount of medicine, while others are filled with harmful chemicals. These fake medicines may not cure the illness and can even make the health condition worse. In some cases, they can be dangerous to life.

According to drug officials, most of these fake medicines are targeting high-demand categories like cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, pain relief, antibiotics, ulcers, and thyroid. The Drug Control Administration (DCA) has already seized fake drugs from several pharmacies in areas like Moosapet, LB Nagar, Malakpet, Karmanghat, Musarambagh, and Sultan Bazaar. Since 2023, officials have caught fake medicines worth around ₹1.73 crore in the Hyderabad region.

So, how can you spot a fake medicine? Most genuine branded medicines now include a QR code or barcode on their packaging. By scanning it using a mobile phone, customers can check the medicine’s details—such as the product ID, brand name, generic name, manufacturing location and date, batch number, expiry date, and license number. If any of this information is missing or incorrect, the medicine could be fake. If there’s no QR code at all, that’s also a warning sign.

If you suspect a medicine might be fake, report it immediately. The government has set up a toll-free number for complaints: 1800 599 6969 (available from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM).