The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has intensified its crackdown on counterfeit drug rackets with seizures worth ₹1.73 crore since December 2023. A series of raids uncovered spurious medicines falsely labelled under reputed pharma brands. The DCA has also issued a public advisory encouraging verification of QR codes on select high-selling medicines to combat the threat.

Key Highlights

Raids reveal massive spurious drug network

• Spurious drugs were seized across Hyderabad and other regions, with fake labels of companies like Sun Pharma, Glenmark, Torrent, Abbott, and Aristo.

• Notable seizures include counterfeit batches of Rosuvas 10, Telma H, Montek-LC, and Vertin 8/16 tablets.

• Fictitious firms and mislabelled antibiotics were traced to illegal facilities in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana.

QR code advisory for 300 schedule H2 brands

• The public is advised to verify QR codes or barcodes on medicine labels of 300 Schedule H2 brands to confirm authenticity.

• Mandatory for products manufactured after 1st August 2023, this step is aimed at empowering consumers to identify spurious drugs.

Special drives and show cause notices

• On 12 May 2025, 296 medical shops were inspected; six suspicious batches were frozen pending investigation.

• On 7 May, 90 shops were inspected in GHMC limits. While no counterfeit drugs were found, 17 shops were issued show cause notices for other violations.

Action against repeat offenders

• Raids were conducted at locations of habitual offenders on 7 May 2025. No stocks were found, but surveillance continues to deter repeat offences.

• DCA emphasized zero tolerance and plans continued surprise inspections with QR code verification.

Reporting and helpline

• Citizens can report suspicious products to DCA via toll-free number 1800 599 6969 (10:30 AM to 5:00 PM on working days).

• Contact details for regional DCA offices are available at: https://dca.telangana.gov.in

The Telangana DCA’s ongoing crackdown and QR code verification drive signal an aggressive stance against counterfeit drugs. With public cooperation, technological tools, and targeted enforcement, the state aims to safeguard patient safety and pharmaceutical integrity.