spurious medicines through recycling

Making spurious drugs through recycling
Recycling involves getting hold of a used and empty drug container (whose label is intact) and filling it with contents that look similar to the original drug product. As per a paper written by Dr. Venkateswarulu, this recycling is more in the case of powder injections, like beta-lactam antibiotics, which are expensive, and over-the-counter products like iodex, gripewater etc and is operated by individuals who have an understanding of the pharma markets. The process involves collecting used vials with intact labels, removing the closures, filling the containers with enough material and resealing it by using hand operated sealing machines which are easily available.
Usually it’s an individual operation, the quantity is small and the operations are done at a cottage level. Some network is necessary here also as there is a demand of empty containers of one kind in a big quantity. The spurious medicines thus made are distributed through hospitals, nursing homes and practicing quacks. Sometimes when only empty containers with torn labels are there, the spurious manufacturers can also produce fake labels similar to the original labels.
Technology cuts both ways; for instance, with superfine printing technology that makes labeling easy, many companies are getting bowled over – they are not able to identify the counterfeits of their own products because of the labeling and packaging.
The culprits in this scenario are the manufacturers of spurious drugs and all the people who are involved in its sale and the buyer himself if he is buying at a place other than a medical shop.

Problems:
1.These operations are done in a clandestine manner in small houses and it is difficult to locate them.
2.There is no restriction on the sale of empty drug product containers.
3.The suppliers of containers for drug products need not have any license. It is these people who usually aid the manufacturers of spurious drugs.
4.Very poor level of public awareness regarding spurious manufacture is a problem.

Solutions:
1.Public awareness of the menace of spurious drugs must be enhanced.
2.Hospitals must be told about this issue and when hospitals are being inspected; thorough enquiry must be made regarding their procedures with respect to empty drug product containers.
3. Suppliers of empty containers must also be required to have a license and must be made to maintain records.
4.Suspected dealers must be under scrutiny of the police.
5.Public must be informed that they must destroy empty drug containers just as they are destroying empty water bottles.
6.If a spurious medicine is traced to a place; the issue must be immediately brought to the notice of the drugs inspector.
7.The drugs inspector must address the public on TV/radio and advice the public regarding spurious medicines.

We must fight this menace by uniting our forces.