High drug prices fuel counterfeit medicine trade in India

A drug racket busted in Karnataka has highlighted how high medicine prices create opportunities for counterfeiters to thrive. The gap between legitimate drug costs and retail prices makes counterfeiting financially attractive, enabling criminals to produce and distribute fake medicines.

Experts say closing these price disparities and strengthening supply-chain controls are critical to tackling the problem. Better oversight mechanisms can help detect counterfeit drugs before they reach patients, reducing health risks and protecting public safety.