New Delhi, Jun 11: The Indian government on Thursday, Jun 11 said that it would be lodging a protest with China against fake anti-malarial 'Made in India" drugs detained by Nigerian authorities, as the consignments which originated from China was damaging the Indian pharmaceutical industry.

Commerce Ministry said, "Taking serious note of the action by scrupulous elements to malign the Indian generic pharma industry, Embassy of India in Beijing, has been requested to lodge a strong protest with concerned Chinese authorities and also to impress upon them to take stringent action against such scrupulous elements."

According to India's High Commissioner in Nigeria, the consignment containing Maloxine and Amalar tablets, used for the treatment of malaria, were valued at 32.1 million Naira and was produced, packed and shipped from China.

The report said, "After a laboratory analysis by the NAFDAC, the drugs have been found to be fake and had it not been intercepted, about 642,000 adults would have been affected."

India has acquired a strong position as a producer and exporter of inexpensive generic medicines which can treat with efficiency and safety at par with their patented alternatives, but at a very reasonable cost.

ANI