Fake drugs from China reach Kenya now

NEW DELHI: The supply of fake drugs from China to the African sub-continent is not limited to Nigeria, it now appears. The Kenyan government has seized two container loads of medicines shipped from Shanghai bearing a 'government of Kenya' label falsely indicating that it was manufactured in Kenya, a communication from the Indian High Commission in Nairobi to the Indian government has indicated.

Although unlike the Nigerian seizures, the present impounded consignments do not bear India's name, India, nonetheless, is on the alert, as there might be other similar fake consignments in the country. The Kenyan government is trying to establish whether there are other consignments of fake drugs that have reached the country or are on the way.

“It is pretty clear by now that sub-standard drugs manufactured in China with false manufacturing labels are being shipped to African countries. Since such consignments have been seized in Kenya and there are chances that other such consignments may have reached the country or are on their way, India has to ensure that the fakes are not passed off as manufactured-in-India products, bringing disrepute to the country,” a commerce department official told a news agency.

The Nigerian government had recently seized a large consignment of fake anti-malarial drugs labelled made in India but produced in China. India lodged a strong protest with China demanding strict action against Chinese manufacturers of such spurious drugs whose names and addresses were clearly printed on the confiscated cartons.

Africa is an important market for Indian drug producers as it accounts for over 15% of India’s total generic (off-patent drugs) exports worth Rs 30,000 crore annually.

“India can’t afford to get a bad name in the African market for drugs. We have to do all possible through the diplomatic channels to stop unscrupulous Chinese producers from bringing disrepute to the Indian industry,” the official added.

Meanwhile, India will take up with Libya a complaint by Ajanta Pharma that its consignment was barred entry on the grounds that it was from a non-US, non-EU region.