Karnataka health department to track cancer patients following counterfeit drug seizure

Following the seizure of counterfeit cancer drugs and the cancellation of 16 retail and wholesale pharmaceutical licences, Karnataka health authorities are tracking patients to check their health status.

Health Minister U.T. Khader stated that records of cancer patients will be reviewed from private hospitals across the state to identify individuals who may have unknowingly purchased fake drugs.

The department has written to Pfizer headquarters for reference standards to ease drug testing and plans to invoke stringent BNS provisions carrying up to life imprisonment against fake drug manufacturers.