Vayalar for action against fake drug companies

CHENNAI: The production of fake medicines and spurious drugs by leading pharmaceutical manufacturers in India is becoming a problem, said Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi.Making a candid statement at the inaugural ceremony of PDSICON-2011, at the Madras Medical Mission, he went on to say, “Unfortunately for the people,there is no proper check for the quality and originality of drugs by the Government in India.”Delving into his experiences from his wife’s suffering of 23 years with dialysis and kidney trouble, Ravi also opined, “The greed of pharmaceutical companies may threaten the lives of patients,” and even advocated that, “strong action must be taken against fake medicine producers.” He concluded his revelations by stating as a disclaimer that his words were made as a simple citizen and a layman.Addressing nephrologists and members of the Peritoneal Dialysis Society of India, he also said that considering the high number of people with kidney disorders all the state governments and the Centre should come forward to have dialysis facilities at the taluk and district levels as well.This conference, the 14th to be held, will also mark the twentieth year since peritoneal dialysis was introduced in South Asia.