LAHORE – Health authorities in Punjab issued urgent public health warning after identifying counterfeit batch of widely used antibiotic Azomax 250 mg, urging citizens not to use the medicine under any circumstances if it belongs to the affected batch.
A recent alert issued by Directorate of Drugs Control, Punjab said a batch of Azomax 250 mg bearing Batch No. H5332 with an expiry date of July 2027 has been declared counterfeit following action against fake medicines.
Health authorities have warned that the fake antibiotic could pose serious risks to patients and have advised the public to immediately check the batch number before using the medicine.
The department has further urged consumers to purchase medicines only from licensed medical stores and authorized pharmacies to avoid falling victim to counterfeit pharmaceutical products.
Officials have directed healthcare providers, pharmacists, and the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected counterfeit medicines to the relevant drug regulatory authorities.
Earlier this year, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) issued a nationwide safety alert after laboratory testing identified six commonly used medicines in Punjab as counterfeit or substandard.
The regulator warned that the affected batches posed potential health risks, ordered their immediate withdrawal from the market, and directed pharmacies and healthcare providers to stop dispensing them. DRAP also launched action against illegal manufacturing and distribution networks while urging the public to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies.
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