Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Fake Medicines Raise Serious Risks Beyond Expiry Dates
Fake medicines may look like real medicines but can be dangerous.
They might have the wrong ingredient or the wrong amount of medicine.
They could also contain harmful germs if they were made in dirty places.
This can make people sicker instead of helping them get better.
Look for spelling mistakes, blurry printing, damaged seals or unusual colours and smells.
Check the medicine’s name, strength, manufacturer, batch number and expiry date.
Buy medicines from trusted pharmacies and follow a doctor’s prescription.
If a medicine seems unsafe, stop and ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking more.
Keep the package and receipt so the product can be checked.
Counterfeit or poorly manufactured medicines may contain incorrect doses, harmful substances or biological contaminants.
Experts warn that contaminated medicines can cause serious infections, especially in vulnerable patients.
Warning signs include spelling errors, poor printing, damaged seals, altered batch details and unusual tablet or liquid appearance.
Patients should verify the medicine’s name, strength, manufacturer, batch number, dates, MRP and packaging before use.
Suspected medicines should be paused after medical advice, while the packaging, batch details and purchase bill are retained for investigation.
- Who
- Patients and medicine consumers, with guidance from Dr Ekadashi Rajni Sabharwal and Ravikumar Vattikuti.
- What
- Experts are warning about counterfeit, contaminated, improperly manufactured or poorly stored medicines and explaining how consumers can identify and report concerns.
- When
- The article cites reported fake-medicine cases from 2025–26, including incidents in April 2026 and August 2026.
- Where
- The cited cases involve Haryana near Delhi, Nagpur and Bidadi in Karnataka; Ravikumar Vattikuti is identified with a hospital in Hyderabad.
- Why
- Fake or substandard medicines may fail to treat illness, cause adverse reactions or toxicity, promote drug resistance, or contain biological contaminants that can cause serious infections.
- Main danger
- Medicines may contain the wrong ingredient, too little or too much active ingredient, harmful substances or biological contaminants.
- Possible outcomes
- Risks include treatment failure, prolonged illness, adverse reactions, toxicity, drug resistance and life-threatening complications.
- Packaging red flags
- Spelling errors, poor printing, unusual fonts or colours, damaged seals, altered dates and mismatches between cartons and blister packs.
- Medicine red flags
- Discolouration, cracks, swelling, visible particles, precipitate, leakage or an unusual smell.
- Details to verify
- Name, strength, dosage form, manufacturer, batch number, manufacturing date, expiry date and MRP.
- Consumer action
- Buy from legitimate sources, follow prescriptions and seek advice from a doctor or pharmacist if the product seems suspicious.
- Reported seizure
- Authorities in Haryana seized more than 260 suspected counterfeit Mounjaro pens near Delhi in April 2026.