Tuberculosis Patient Safety Jeopardized by Counterfeit Antibiotics
Karachi police shut down a pharmaceuticals factory producing counterfeit antibiotics used for tuberculosis, confiscating fakes worth Rs20 million and arresting twelve people.
The Vice Chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences contacted officials after suspecting the drugs to be counterfeit and experts determined the medication was “completely bogus,” said Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, director of the Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases (OICD), reported the Tribune.
“We can’t take any risks when it comes to medicines. Someone has to take a stand and we are thankful that the vice chancellor took the necessary steps,” said Dr Ahmed.
OICD hired Century Pharma, the creator of the fakes, three years ago, to produce tuberculosis antibiotics, and they had delivered a three month supply of medication. In addition, Century Pharma was supplying the same fake medication to other hospitals in Karachi. Additionally the company’s FDA license had expired on the first of this year.