Bookmark this page

Many licensed pharmacies sell fake medicines in developing countries like India. These medicines can aggravate the illness or even cause death. However, a customer can ensure the medicine purchased from the chemist is genuine by following certain guidelines.

1. Check the batch number, expiry date and price details on the bill and packaging of  the medicine. The information should match.

2. Most large pharmacies have computerized their billing and inventory system. Insist on a printed bill generated by the POS terminal. These bills are more difficult to duplicate and in case of any problem,  you can hold the pharmacy accountable.

3. The bill should be signed by the pharmacist, under whose name the pharmacy is being run. Often, the pharmacist may not be present, but if the bill does not have his signature, it will be difficult to take action against the pharmacy.

4. If a prescription drug specified by a doctor is not available, do not buy substitutes suggested by the pharmacist. You can ask the pharmacist for a list of  alternative medicines available, cross check with your doctor and then make a purchase.

5. Fake drugs are sold with similar sounding names and packaging as the prescription drug. Check the spelling carefully to find out if it is an imitation of  the established drug brand.

6. Avoid asking the pharmacist for a discount, you may be sold fake drugs.

.