Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Khader Seeks Tougher Action Against Counterfeit Drug Sellers
Health Minister U.T. Khader wants stronger punishment for people who sell fake medicines.
He said current penalties and licence cancellations do not discourage the offence enough.
Officials found a network connected to medicines worth more than Rs 5 crore.
The network may also have links in other states.
The government ordered suspected medicine batches to be removed from hospitals and shops.
It also blocked online access connected to the suspected network.
Khader said people should not be alarmed by social media claims that fake medicines were supplied to hospitals.
The government is considering a better testing laboratory and surprise inspections to find counterfeit medicines more quickly.
Health Minister U.T. Khader urged the Centre to impose tougher criminal penalties on counterfeit medicine sellers, including provisions for attempted murder or murder.
The state detected a counterfeit drug-labelling network involving medicines worth more than Rs 5 crore, with possible links to other states.
Authorities ordered the withdrawal of medicines from suspected batches from hospitals and medical shops.
Access linked to the suspected network was blocked on the department’s online portal to prevent voucher generation across the state.
The government is considering an advanced drug-testing laboratory and surprise inspections to improve detection and quality checks.
- Who
- Health Minister U.T. Khader and the state government are pursuing action against people involved in counterfeit medicine sales.
- What
- Khader called for tougher criminal action, including possible attempted-murder or murder provisions, and announced measures to withdraw suspected medicines and investigate the network.
- When
- Tuesday; no specific date was provided.
- Where
- Mangaluru, with suspected network links extending to other states and portal controls applied across the state.
- Why
- Khader said existing penalties are insufficient to deter counterfeit medicine sales and that the activity puts people’s lives at risk.
- Minister
- U.T. Khader
- Estimated medicine value
- More than Rs 5 crore
- Investigation request
- A probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or a central drug investigation agency
- Immediate measure
- Withdrawal of medicines from suspected batches from hospitals and medical shops
- Online-control measure
- Login access linked to the suspected network was blocked on the department’s online portal
- Proposed safeguards
- An advanced drug-testing laboratory and surprise inspections with random sample testing