The Sindh Drug Testing Laboratory (SDTL) has declared nine medicines used in cancer treatment as fake, substandard, or unregistered, raising concerns about patient safety and the quality of medicines available in the market.
According to laboratory officials, testing found that some of the medicines did not contain the required active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), meaning they may not provide the intended therapeutic effect for cancer patients.
Laboratory highlights serious quality concerns
Director of the Sindh Drug Testing Laboratory Syed Adnan Rizvi said the laboratory’s findings showed that several of the tested medicines lacked the required active ingredient.
He also stated that some products did not carry a Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) registration number, indicating they were not properly registered.
Concerns over prescribing practices
Rizvi further said that some oncologists reportedly specify particular pharmacies on prescriptions, a practice he suggested warrants closer scrutiny.
He emphasized that counterfeit and substandard cancer medicines pose a serious risk to patients because ineffective treatment can allow the disease to progress.
Patient safety remains a priority
Health experts have long warned that counterfeit and unregistered medicines can undermine treatment outcomes and endanger patients, particularly those undergoing treatment for serious illnesses such as cancer.
The laboratory’s findings highlight the importance of regulatory oversight, medicine quality testing, and ensuring patients obtain medicines through authorized sources.
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