How to report fake or substandard medicine in Pakistan
If a medicine fails the scan, is flagged, or simply looks wrong, stop using it, keep everything, and file a complaint with DRAP. Your report is how inspectors find where a bad batch entered the market.
1. Stop and keep the evidence
Do not throw the pack away. Keep the outer box, strips or bottle, the leaflet, any unused medicine and your receipt. Take clear photos of the square code, the batch number, the expiry date and the registration number, and a screenshot of the scan result.
2. Talk to the pharmacy
Show the pharmacist what you found. A licensed pharmacy should replace the pack, preferably from a different batch, and can raise the issue with its distributor. Note the pharmacy's name and address for your report.
3. How to report fake medicine to DRAP
DRAP accepts complaints about medicines through the complaint registration section of its track and trace portal (drugtrace.dra.gov.pk) and through its main website (dra.gov.pk). Include:
- Medicine name, strength and manufacturer
- Batch number, expiry date and serial number
- Where and when you bought it, with the receipt
- What was wrong: failed scan, recall, appearance, effect
- Your photos
Provincial drug inspectors and drug testing laboratories handle the follow-up locally, so your provincial health department is another route if you cannot reach DRAP.
4. If you have side effects
See a doctor first. Then report the side effect too: DRAP runs a pharmacovigilance programme for adverse drug reactions, and a report that links a side effect to a specific batch is especially valuable.
What happens next
Inspectors may collect samples from the market and send them for testing. If a batch fails, DRAP issues a recall alert naming the product and batch, and the batch is withdrawn from sale. Recall alerts are published on DRAP's website.
When should you report?
You do not need to be certain a medicine is fake. Report when you have a reasonable doubt that you cannot explain away.
| Situation | Report it? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Scan says not verified after you re-checked the details | Yes | The serial is not in DRAP's records |
| Scan says recalled or flagged | Yes, and tell the pharmacy | Stock that should be off the shelf is being sold |
| Pack made after 9 October 2026 with no square code | Yes | The code is mandatory for that stock |
| No registration number, or batch and expiry missing | Yes | Possible unregistered or tampered product |
| Expiry date altered or pack sold after expiry | Yes | Selling expired medicine is prohibited |
| Tablets look or behave differently from your usual pack | Yes, after asking the pharmacist | May be substandard or heat-damaged |
| Older pack with no code but everything else in order | No | Pre-deadline stock is exempt |
| You simply typed a digit wrong | No | Re-enter the details first |
How to write a complaint that gets acted on
Inspectors deal with many reports. The ones that move quickly are specific. A weak complaint says "this medicine is fake". A strong one reads something like this:
"On 3 November 2026 I bought one pack of [brand] 500 mg tablets, batch [number], expiry [date], from [pharmacy name and address], for Rs. [amount]; receipt attached. The square code scanned as 'not verified' twice, and when I typed the details by hand. The registration number on the pack is [number]. The seal was intact but the printing is blurred compared with my previous pack. Photos of the pack, code and receipt are attached. The pack is with me and available for collection."
That gives an inspector a product, a batch, a place, a date and evidence, which is everything needed to visit the shop and take samples.
Filling in DRAP's online form
The form on DRAP's track and trace portal asks who is reporting, which medicine, and what the problem is. For a suspected fake, choose the complaint type that fits best, such as suspected falsification, quality defects or unregistered products. The medicine section includes the batch or lot number: do not leave it blank. There is an option to submit anonymously, though contact details let investigators come back to you. Our DRAP complaint portal guide walks through every field, and the same can be done from the official Mehfooz Dawa app with photos and location attached.
What to do with the medicine itself
- Stop using it and keep it away from children.
- Do not throw it away and do not return every pack to the shop. Keep at least one as evidence.
- Keep it as you found it: in its carton, with the leaflet and remaining strips.
- Store it normally, away from heat, in case it needs to be tested.
- Label it "do not use" so nobody in the house takes it by mistake.
If the pharmacy is unhelpful
Most pharmacists want to know when stock fails a check, because they may have been sold it in good faith. If a shop refuses to replace the pack, dismisses the scan or tries to take the pack from you without a replacement and a note, keep your evidence and report anyway, naming the shop. Selling medicine is a licensed activity, and the provincial drug inspector for your district has the power to inspect it.
Reporting for someone else
You can report on behalf of a parent, a patient or a neighbour. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists can report as healthcare professionals, and DRAP's form has categories for pharmacies and hospitals too. If a patient has been harmed, also file a side-effect report, because that goes to the pharmacovigilance centre.
Jali dawa ki shikayat: short version
- Dawa istemal na kareinPack, strips aur raseed mehfooz rakhein.
- Tasveerein leinCode, batch, expiry, registration number aur scan ka natija.
- Pharmacy ko batayeinDoosre batch ka pack maangein.
- DRAP ko report kareindrugtrace.dra.gov.pk par Complaint Registration form ya Mehfooz Dawa app. Toll-free number 0800-03727 hai.
Report counterfeit medicine to DRAP: does it make a difference?
Yes. DRAP's alert archive shows the pattern: a complaint or a market sample leads to laboratory testing, and a failed test leads to a public alert naming the product and batch. Hundreds of such alerts have been issued since 2021, and you can read them in our recall search. Each one began with somebody noticing a problem and saying so.
Questions people ask
Can I report a fake medicine without giving my name?
DRAP's complaint process asks for contact details so investigators can follow up and collect the pack if needed. Your report is about the product and the seller. If you are worried, say so in the complaint.
Will the pharmacy get in trouble?
Not automatically. Many pharmacies receive fake stock unknowingly from distributors. A report lets inspectors trace where the batch came from. Telling the pharmacy first is fair and often gets you a quick replacement.
What if I already took the medicine?
Contact your doctor, especially if you feel unwell or your condition is not improving. Keep the remaining medicine and the pack, as they may be needed for testing.
How do I report fake medicine to DRAP?
Use the Complaint Registration form on DRAP's track and trace portal, drugtrace.dra.gov.pk, or the official Mehfooz Dawa app. Give the medicine name, batch number, where and when you bought it, what was wrong, and attach photos.
What is the DRAP complaint number?
DRAP's website lists the toll-free number 0800-03727. A written online complaint with photos is easier to track than a call.
Do I need the receipt to report?
A receipt helps a lot because it proves where the pack came from, but you can still report without one. Give the shop's name and address and the date as accurately as you can.
Should I return the fake medicine to the shop?
Ask the shop for a replacement, but keep at least one suspect pack and your receipt as evidence until your complaint has been dealt with.
How long does DRAP take to respond?
It varies with the type of complaint and whether laboratory testing is needed. If you gave contact details, keep any reference you receive and follow up through the same channel.
