|
 The Bangalore District Chemists and Druggists Association (BDCDA) has alerted the pharma wholesalers and retailers on the issue of theft of Novo Nordisk’s six products which are insulins and semiglutide injections. This was during the transit from its Bhiwandi hub to milk route involving Nagpur, Raipur, Cuttack and Kolkata. The milk route is a service pathway involving multiple stops.
The Association sprang into action and strongly cautioned against the circulation or usage of these stolen Novo Nordisk products. It has urged all stakeholders to exercise heightened vigilance and thoroughly verify the authenticity and supply source of these products, cautioning that dispensing or selling stolen stock could endanger patient safety and result in serious legal repercussions, if found guilty.
Patient safety is our foremost priority, and we urge all wholesalers, retailers, healthcare professionals, and citizens to remain extremely alert and vigilant, said BDCDA president B Thirunavukkarasu.
Members, wholesalers & retailers are hereby advised to purchase these six products of the global drug major only through company-appointed stockists against valid invoices, while ensuring that batch numbers and expiry dates are carefully verified and validated, said the BDCDA president.
The six products are insulin degludec/insulin aspart (rDNA) origin solution for injection: Ryzodeg Flex Touch. Insulin aspart (rDNA) origin solution for injection: Fiasp Penfill. Insulin aspart (rDNA) origin solution for injection: Fiasp Flex Touch. Semaglutide 0.5 mg (rDNA) origin solution for injection: Wegovy Flex Touch. Semaglutide 0.25 mg (rDNA) origin with solution for injection: Wegovy Flex Touch). Semaglutide injection 1mg (rDNA) origin with solution for injection: Wegovy Flex Touch, he said sharing the communication note from DCGI office giving the list of the medicines.
According to Thirunavukkarasu, the products should not be sourced from semi-wholesalers or procuring agents or sub-stockists. Instead, he insisted that the pharmacy outlets should source it from only authorized stockists. The Association has 10,000 pharmacy outlets coming under its umbrella. Karnataka has a total of 30,000 pharmacy outlets, said Thirunavukkarasu.
Further, the BDCDA chief also said that all pharmacy outlets need to create awareness among the general public to purchase medicines only from licensed retail medical stores and insist on a proper bill. If any of their customers are doubtful of the medicines’ standard of quality, then they should report to the BDCDA Helpline: 6362635250, Karnataka Food Safety & Drug Administration. This is because the six Novo Nordisk products are of rDNA origin injectables which are required to be stored at 2-8 degree C. The quality of the products may be compromised if the products are not handled in proper storage conditions.
|