“Instead of healing, people are being handed trash—poison masquerading as medicine. In rural and remote regions of Kashmir, where access to healthcare is already fragile, the circulation of fake or low-quality drugs is nothing short of criminal.”
The alarming reports of substandard and counterfeit medicines being sold across Kashmir demand immediate and uncompromising action. When a patient walks into a pharmacy or receives a prescription from a government hospital, there is a sacred trust—that the medicine offered is genuine, effective, and life-saving. Today, that trust stands shattered. Instead of healing, people are being handed trash—poison masquerading as medicine. In rural and remote regions of Kashmir, where access to healthcare is already fragile, the circulation of fake or low-quality drugs is nothing short of criminal. It is not merely a case of negligence; it is a silent, ongoing assault on public health. Citizens suffering from curable ailments are forced to endure prolonged illness or develop complications because the medicines they consume are expired, diluted, or contain no active ingredients at all. Shockingly, some of these medicines are even being supplied through government hospitals, indicating a complete breakdown in the procurement and monitoring system. How do such drugs get clearance? Who is held accountable when a poor patient receives ineffective treatment from a public hospital? The answers remain buried under layers of bureaucracy and apathy. The blame lies not only with unscrupulous pharmaceutical dealers and distributors but also with the system meant to regulate them. Where is the Drug Control Department? Why are raids so rare, and penalties so weak? Why are unverified pharmaceutical companies allowed to infiltrate the valley’s medicine supply chains with impunity? Medical professionals have already begun sounding the alarm. Many doctors in both public and private sectors report that patients are not responding to standard treatments. This not only affects the credibility of the medical profession but threatens to spark a dangerous rise in antibiotic resistance—a time bomb with far-reaching consequences. The people of Kashmir deserve better. A region already grappling with the stress of conflict, unemployment, and poor infrastructure cannot afford to add a healthcare catastrophe to its list of struggles.
“Pharmacists and hospitals must be held accountable for the quality of drugs they distribute. Beyond enforcement, public awareness is critical. People must be educated about checking expiry dates, verifying packaging, and reporting suspicious medicines. Toll-free helplines and district-level inspection teams can empower citizens to become the first line of defense against counterfeit drugs. This is not a mere regulatory lapse—it is a matter of life and death. Medicines are not just commodities; they are hope. To hand someone a fake drug is not a business failure—it is a betrayal of humanity and a crime that must be punished accordingly. Kashmiris deserve access to safe, effective, and quality healthcare. The government, the medical fraternity, and civil society must unite to cleanse this rot from the system—before more lives are lost to this slow and silent killer.”
The government must launch an immediate and independent audit of pharmaceutical procurement processes, both in public and private sectors. Companies with a history of supplying substandard drugs must be blacklisted. Pharmacists and hospitals must be held accountable for the quality of drugs they distribute. Beyond enforcement, public awareness is critical. People must be educated about checking expiry dates, verifying packaging, and reporting suspicious medicines. Toll-free helplines and district-level inspection teams can empower citizens to become the first line of defense against counterfeit drugs. This is not a mere regulatory lapse—it is a matter of life and death. Medicines are not just commodities; they are hope. To hand someone a fake drug is not a business failure—it is a betrayal of humanity and a crime that must be punished accordingly. Kashmiris deserve access to safe, effective, and quality healthcare. The government, the medical fraternity, and civil society must unite to cleanse this rot from the system—before more lives are lost to this slow and silent killer.
Shafqat Bukhari
Editor @thekashmirhorizon.com
