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Karnataka Suspends Pfizer Depot After Bengaluru Counterfeit Drug Bust
Officials in Karnataka found medicines they believe may be fake.
They raided farmhouses in two areas of Bengaluru on August 18.
The medicines and other materials found were worth about Rs 5 crore.
They also found fake bills and labels used to make the products look genuine.
The government cancelled the licences of 16 pharmaceutical firms.
It suspended the licences of eight more firms, including a Pfizer depot.
A Special Investigation Team is examining whether the businesses were part of a larger scheme.
The health minister said Pfizer’s sales in Karnataka were stopped because it did not cooperate with investigators.
Karnataka cancelled the licences of 16 retail and wholesale pharmaceutical firms across Bengaluru.
The state suspended eight other firms, including Pfizer’s depot, over alleged links to spurious products.
Raids on August 18 in Bidadi and Dodderi seized suspected counterfeit medicines worth about Rs 5 crore.
Officials also found fake bills, injection-filling equipment and counterfeit labels during the raids.
Health Minister U T Khader said Pfizer’s sales were stopped because the company did not cooperate with the investigation.
- Who
- Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drugs Administration, Health Minister U T Khader, pharmaceutical firms, and a Special Investigation Team.
- What
- Authorities cancelled 16 pharmaceutical licences and suspended eight others, including Pfizer’s depot, after seizing suspected counterfeit medicines.
- Where
- Bengaluru, Karnataka, including the Bidadi and Dodderi areas of Bengaluru South district.
- When
- The raids took place on August 18; the licence actions were announced on Sunday.
- Why
- Authorities alleged that firms were involved in selling or supplying spurious products; some firms were also suspended for allegedly not cooperating with the investigation.
Key facts
- Cancelled licences
- 16 retail and wholesale pharmaceutical firms
- Suspended licences
- Eight firms, including Pfizer’s depot
- Seizure value
- Suspected counterfeit medicines worth around Rs 5 crore
- Raid date
- August 18
- Raid locations
- Farmhouses in Bidadi and Dodderi, Bengaluru South district
- Investigation
- A Special Investigation Team is probing the wider alleged racket
- Additional evidence
- Fake bills, injection-filling equipment and counterfeit labels
Quotes
U T Khader
Karnataka Health Minister
“We have stopped Pfizer’s sale in the state because they did not cooperate with the investigation”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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