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Our Bureau

Chennai , Sept. 27

CONCERT, a public charitable trust and a centre for consumer education and research, has brought to India the `Drug Mini-Lab', which helps detect spurious and sub-standard quality medicine.

Developed by the German Pharma Health Fund (GPHF), a charitable organisation in Germany, it provides a method by which quality verification of anti-tuberculosis, anti-malarial and anti-retroviral drugs and major antibiotics is possible.

Mr R. Desikan, Trustee, Concert, said at the launch of the mini-lab that the lab was developed by the pharmaceutical industry in Germany. Concert had sought GPHF's support because of the rampant sale of spurious and sub-standard drugs in India and other South-East Asian countries.

The value of counterfeit drugs sold in India accounts for an annual turnover of Rs 4,500 crore, according to a press release issued by Concert.

Mr Karl Weihgold, Senior Quality Manager, Ratiopharm, GPHF, said counterfeiting of medicines was moving from small cottage industries towards sophisticated large-scale operations using highly professional equipment.

The World Health Organisation estimated that the circulation of counterfeit medicines comprises 6 per cent of the world market.

Mr Weihgold said in many South-East Asian countries, approximately 10 per cent of the medicines on the market were counterfeit.

Mr Desikan said the mini lab was not there to punish, but if the situation demanded, Concert would not hesitate to take a class action or any action against a company.

Inaugurating the mini lab, Mr K. Rajaraman, Additional Commissioner, Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, Tamil Nadu, said this was an important moment in consumer rights, and a long overdue development.

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