Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Maharashtra Plans Counterfeit Drug Screening In Government Hospitals
Maharashtra wants to make sure medicines in government hospitals are safe and genuine.
Health officials will use small portable machines to check medicine supplies.
Trained pharmacists will operate these machines.
Special teams will visit health centers and hospitals across the state.
They will check facilities in all eight health circles.
Pharmacists will receive training before the checks begin.
The first round of testing is planned within three months.
The government also wants an independent laboratory to examine medicines supplied by vendors.
Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar ordered stricter medicine-quality testing in public healthcare facilities.
Portable Counterfeit Drug Detection Devices will initially screen medicine stocks across state health institutions.
Trained pharmacist inspection teams will conduct regular checks across Maharashtra’s eight health circles.
Pharmacists will receive specialized training, with the first screening phase planned within three months.
Officials were also instructed to establish an independent laboratory to test vendor-supplied medicines.
- Who
- Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar, health officials, and trained pharmacists.
- What
- The state will use portable counterfeit drug detection devices and establish an independent medicine-testing laboratory.
- When
- Training and the first phase of primary screening are planned within three months.
- Where
- Government health institutions across Maharashtra, including primary health centers and regional hospitals.
- Why
- To ensure the quality and compliance of medicines supplied to public healthcare facilities.
- Initiative
- Primary screening of medicine stocks using Counterfeit Drug Detection Devices.
- Coverage
- All eight health circles in Maharashtra.
- Inspection staff
- Dedicated teams of trained pharmacists.
- Timeline
- Training and the first screening phase are planned within three months.
- Additional measure
- Creation of an independent laboratory system for rigorous medicine testing.
- Announcement location
- Health Services Directorate in Mumbai.