DO NOT BUY: Punjab warns public against fake Azomax 250mg antibiotic batch
- Punjab authorities declare a specific batch of Azomax 250mg capsules as “spurious”
- Consumers urged to immediately stop using batch H5332
- Pharmacies and hospitals ordered to halt sales and isolate remaining stock
- Public advised to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies
The Punjab Directorate of Drugs Control (DDC) has issued an urgent public health warning advising people not to use a specific batch of the commonly prescribed antibiotic Azomax 250mg (Azithromycin) capsules after it was officially declared counterfeit.
According to an official notification, the affected product belongs to batch number H5332 with an expiry date of July 2027. The alert was issued after Punjab’s Drug Testing Laboratory confirmed the batch to be “spurious” following a detailed examination.
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Officials said the capsules were recovered from an unauthorised individual allegedly involved in the illegal sale of medicines. After the seizure, the original manufacturer examined the recovered stock and confirmed that the batch was not produced through its authorised manufacturing process.
Based on these findings, Punjab’s Drug Testing Laboratory classified the product as “spurious” under Section 3(zb)(i) of the Drugs Act, 1976, prompting regulatory action by the Provincial Quality Control Board.
The DDC has instructed all market authorisation holders, importers and distributors to immediately review their supply chains and report any suspected unauthorised distribution of the affected batch to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
Hospitals, pharmacies, wholesalers and distributors have also been directed to immediately stop dispensing batch H5332, isolate any remaining stock and submit complete inventory and distribution records to the relevant drug inspectors.
Authorities have further ordered enhanced market surveillance and warned that strict enforcement action will be taken against any organisation found violating the directive.
The DDC has urged the public to discontinue the use of Azomax 250mg capsules from batch H5332 and advised consumers to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorised medical stores.
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