Intl agencies to be roped in to check fake drugs

Cracking down on the growing menace of spurious drugs, the government will introduce measures including roping in of private detective agencies, setting up a separate intelligence network and a reward of up to Rs 25 lakh for informers.

Steps are also being taken to set up drug testing centres at various ports, besides offering rebates in ceiling price to drug manufacturers adopting latest packing technology to counter the menace, official sources said.

The government will set up a separate intelligence-cum-legal cell in the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and, if necessary, help of private detective agencies will also be taken to unearth activities of people involved in the estimated Rs 17,500-crore fake and spurious drug manufacturing business, they said.

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has already announced a reward for those who provide information on fake drugs.

Under this scheme, people may earn up to a maximum of Rs 25 lakh as reward, they said, adding that modalities were being worked out.

Azad, during his tenure as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, had announced a reward for providing information about those who threw grenades in public places. The scheme paid off and the grenade throwing ended by and large.