Karnataka to track cancer patients after fake drug bust

Following the seizure of counterfeit drugs, especially those used to treat cancer, Health Department officials are now tracking patients to check the current status of their health.

Licences of 16 retail and wholesale pharmaceutical firms were cancelled and eight licenses were suspended.

Speaking to The Hindu , U.T. Khader, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, said, “Officials will track records of cancer patients from various private hospitals across the State. We will call them up and check the status of their health. They may have unknowingly bought these counterfeit drugs.”

“We don’t sell fake drugs at government hospitals, hence there is no question of tracking patients to know their status,” he added.

Mr. Khader stated that in order to make it easy for laboratories, doctors, and pharmaceutical firms to differentiate between fake and original drugs, the department has written to the headquarters of Pfizer to release their reference standards.