Counterfeit medicines: Congress MP seeks Centre's probe into Kerala's drug control

Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisham launched a sharp attack on Kerala’s drugs control department in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, alleging that recent statewide raids have uncovered a disturbing surge of spurious and substandard medicines in circulation. Her remarks triggered an immediate counter from CPI(M) MP John Brittas, who accused her of misleading the House.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Hisham said raids conducted in Kozhikode, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram had “revealed a shocking truth” about counterfeit medicines flooding Kerala’s pharmaceutical market. She termed the situation a result of the department’s “utter failure and shameful inefficiency”, claiming its negligence had allowed unregulated manufacturers and marketing firms from outside the state to proliferate.

While acknowledging that counterfeit drugs are a national concern, Hisham focused her criticism on what she described as the Kerala government’s inability to contain the problem. She also highlighted alleged shortcomings in public healthcare facilities, citing a Trivandrum Medical College doctor who was reportedly compelled to publicly disclose shortages of surgical tools.

According to Hisham, surgeries were being indefinitely postponed and operation theatres left idle due to lack of maintenance and supplies. Patients, she said, were being forced to purchase essential surgical items themselves. She further referred to the recent building collapse at Kottayam Medical College that claimed lives, calling it a “painful symbol” of the healthcare system’s deterioration under the LDF government. The Chair intervened as she began to name Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Hisham urged the Centre to direct the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation to conduct a comprehensive probe into Kerala’s drugs control department to ensure transparency and restore confidence in the quality of medicines sold in the state.

Brittas contested her allegations, raising a point of order under Rule 258. He insisted that the spurious medicines were manufactured outside Kerala and credited the state government’s vigilance for uncovering them. Calling Hisham’s remarks “nasty aspersions” on the Chief Minister, he demanded that the Chair delete them from the official record. The Chair assured the House that the matter would be examined.