LAHORE : Sept 24 : A scandal of fake Avastin injection prepared by Genius Pharmaceutical Services of Lahore is feared to cost vision to hundreds of the people in the Punjab. The real size of the tragedy may be much bigger than the reported one by the concerned authorise of Punjab Health Care Department as actual number of affected patients is still unknown.
According to an initial report of the Punjab Health Care Department presented to caretaker chief minister , Mohsin Naqvi, on Sunday Genius Pharmaceutical Services , a Lahore -based unregistered and illegal drug manufacturer was involved in preparing a fake injection– Avastin — for eye disease for years.
The fake manufacturer used Avastin — Roche company’s product name. for his illegal activity.
President All Pakistan Pharmacists Association , Noor Mahar , told NEWSMAN on Sunday that the Lahore based local unregistered and Illegal company used Roche company’s product name–Avastin– to prepare a fake and unauthentic injection . He said the fake injection was flooded in the entire Punjab . He said all those doctors who prescribed this fake injection and concerned drug inspectors were responsible of the tragedy .
Noor Mahar added that under Drug Act 1959 none can manufacture or sell any medicine without having a valid drug manufacturing license .
Manufacturing fake drugs and use the name of any famous brand of any multi national is not a big issue in Pakistan. In the Punjab and KPK there have been thousands of unlawful and unregistered drug manufacturers who are involved in this dirty business . These fake drugs companies are thriving in Pakistan in connivance with the concerned Health authorities . Particularly , these fake companues pay to the drug inspectors to carry out their activities of making fake medicines .
Sometimes lawful drug manufacturing companies are victims of this unlawful business of fake drugs.
Pakistan is among those countries where rampant corruption provides opportunities to fraud companies to make fake medicines and put lives of the innocent people at risk.
The case of fake Avastin injection which is feared to damage vision of a large number of the people in Punjab is its latest example.
Caretaker chief minister , Mohsin Naqvi , should not spare anyone involved in this criminal activity and fix the entire racket to make this case an example for others .
