Vitamin tablets seized by drug department found spurious
NEW DELHI: Tests conducted on a sample of calcium and vitamin tablets confiscated by the Delhi health department from city’s famous Bhagirath Palace in October, have confirmed that the supplements being sold by the wholesalers were fake.
The Delhi drug control department held a batch of the samples of Shelcal 500mg – an oral calcium and vitamin tablet – following information received by the intelligence department.
The medicine is given to treat low blood calcium levels and conditions that it might lead to ailments such as osteoporosis, osteomalacia and hypoparathyroidism. Vitamin D in the tablet helps in absorption of the calcium.
“This raid was conducted on the basis of market intelligence. We came to know that a consignment of spurious drugs was coming to the market and we just waited for it to land,” said Dr Mrinalini Darswal, Delhi’s drug commissioner.
A total of 100 boxes of tablets were picked up in the first week of October, but report from the The Delhi drug control department held a batch of the samples of Shelcal 500mg – an oral calcium and vitamin tablet – following information received by the intelligence department
The medicine is given to treat low blood calcium levels and conditions that it might lead to ailments such as osteoporosis, osteomalacia and hypoparathyroidism
government lab proving the medicines to be fake, came in this week. “The government lab report showed that the medicine had zero content of Vitamin D3, which is one of the active components of the medicine,” said Darswal.
A sample of the medicine was also sent to the drug manufacturer in Uttarakhand to verify its authenticity.
“The company checked the sample provided by us for both chemical composition and physical appearance against a control sample that they are mandated to keep. The manufacturers concluded that the Vitamin D in the tablet helps in absorption of the calcium A total of 100 boxes of tablets were picked up in the first week of October, but report from the government lab proving the medicines to be fake, came in this week A sample of the medicine was also sent to the drug manufacturer in Uttarakhand to verify its authenticity drug was not made by it,” said AK Nasa, assistant drug controller.
The department is investigating who was the manufacturer of the fake medicines and whether there is more of the spurious drug in the market.
“Whoever manufactured the drug, copied one batch of the original medicines completely. Action against the manufacturer will be taken in the court of law under the drugs and cosmetics act,” said Nasa.
He also asked people to purchase medicines only on a receipt to protect themselves from such counterfeit medicines.