Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM), a global group of non-profit organisations working against counterfeit drugs, today launched its India initiative as it looks to widen its scope of fight against fake medicines.
Stressing on the importance to have its presence in India, Partnership of Safe Medicines Executive Director Scott A LaGanga said: "Counterfeit drugs are boarderless, dangerous and present an equal threat to people of all races, classes and nationalities."
Monitoring of the product by patients, doctors, pharmaceutical companies and regulators is important to maintain the quality of drugs, he added.
PSM India also launched a website today to empower consumers and to act as a forum to share ideas and information to strengthen the regulatory process.
PSM is a group of over 60 non-profit organisations and individuals dedicated to protecting consumers from counterfeit drugs across the globe.
"For the first time in decades, various stakeholders in India's healthcare delivery system have come together in a shared and aggressive effort to help protect consumers from the effects of this crisis," Bejon Misra founder of PSM India said.
"As it becomes increasingly difficult for patients and consumers to separate real from spurious drugs, we believe it's time to take further steps to protect the health and well-being of people across India," he added.
According to an estimate substandard drugs account for about eight per cent of the country's drug supply.
Speaking on the occasion National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) Chaiman SM Jharwal said: "Indian pharma industry has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore mark and is likely to maintain healthy growth rate".
