By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi, September 22: The Drugs Control Department of the Delhi Government has seized 481 units of alleged counterfeit rabies vaccine, valued at approximately ₹2 lakh, during searches at three premises in Bhagirath Palace, Delhi.
The action followed directions from Delhi Health Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh, who said the government has a “zero-tolerance policy” towards spurious medicines and warned of strict legal action against those endangering public health.
The seized vaccine was identified as Rabies Vaccine, Human I.P. (Purified Vero Cell Rabies Vaccine) – Abhayrab. According to the Drugs Control Department, the original manufacturer, M/s Human Biologicals Institute, Telangana, confirmed that the batch was counterfeit and had not been released by the company.
Officials collected 120 vials as legal samples for testing and analysis, while the remaining 361 units, along with seven purchase invoices, were seized under Section 22(1)(c) and 22(1)(cc) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The samples have been sent to the Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, for testing.
During the investigation, the Delhi-based firm reportedly told officials that it had purchased the suspected spurious vaccine from an agency in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The Delhi Drugs Control Department subsequently shared the information with the Uttar Pradesh State Drug Department.
Following the information, the UP authorities conducted raids at two locations, including the Kanpur agency, which was found to have supplied the suspected counterfeit vaccine to the Delhi firm, according to the press note.
Health Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh said rabies is a serious and potentially fatal disease and that there could be no compromise on the quality of vaccines.
The Delhi Drugs Control Department has taken the seized stock into custody and is continuing its investigation under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, including efforts to trace the source and wider distribution chain of the suspected counterfeit medicines.
