Maharashtra equips health teams with ₹1.2-crore handheld devices to test medicine quality

Maharashtra health minister Prakash Abitkar revealed that the government has purchased eight counterfeit-drug detection machines, each valued at ₹1.2 crore, to safeguard the quality of medicines supplied through the public health system. Managed by Dawall Life Science Pvt Ltd, the handheld units can rapidly analyze tablets, syrups and injections against stored reference formulations. Eight flying squads, each equipped with one device and staffed by a qualified pharmacist and a trained official, will perform random monthly inspections at hospitals, clinics and procurement points, including those handled by Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation.

Positive findings will be sent to the twelve NABL-recognised laboratories for verification before any regulatory action by the Food and Drug Administration. The rollout makes Maharashtra the first Indian state to use this technology, while other states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir plan similar purchases. Officials say the initiative aims to increase transparency and accountability in drug procurement and protect patients from substandard medicines.