Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals as Organized Crime: A Threat to Public Health and Safety

When we were children ago, our moms would usually rely on home drugs for fever, the flu, or similar remedies. These days, when someone reports having a headache or other comparable symptoms, we frequently recommend taking medicine, much like doctors do. Examples of recommended meds include paracetamol and Dolo 650. In accordance to the National Library of Medicine, diabetes prevalence is second highest in India. It is estimated that 124.9 million individuals in India would develop diabetes by 2025. The increased demand for pharmaceuticals opens up the potential of counterfeit drugs, one that could infiltrate syndicated crime in violation of consumer rights. The rise in the prevalence of e-medicines, on the flipside, is a further reason why there are more numbers cybercrimes. Intentional falsification and counterfeiting of pharmaceutical products are advocated by organized crime syndicates that profit greatly from these activities thereby endangering public health across the globe. Such illicit operations exploit regulatory gaps, poor enforcement and a heavy demand for cheaper medicines especially in low- or middle-income countries. Counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs which include mislabelled, low-quality, and unlicensed medication not only do not alleviate the claimed illnesses but also often lead to severe health problems or loss of lives.