Medicine Quality Crisis Prompts New Transparency Initiative
As India grapples with a sharp rise in substandard medicine alerts, Medkart Pharmacy is positioning itself at the forefront of a transparency movement. The generic-medicine retail chain has announced an expansion of its Medkart Assured quality program, which includes publishing detailed test results and rejection rates. The move comes amid growing public concern over drug safety, fueled by data from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) showing that 1,879 drug samples were declared Not of Standard Quality in 2025 — more than double the 877 reported in 2024.
CDSCO Data Highlights Escalating Problem
The CDSCO has tightened its sampling and reporting rules in response to the surge. Monthly alerts have identified substandard batches across widely used categories, including antibiotics, cardiovascular medications, anti-diabetic drugs, and injectables, alongside spurious and counterfeit products. Officials emphasize that each finding pertains to specific tested batches rather than the entire market, but the trend has heightened public scrutiny of medicine vetting processes.
Patient Trust in Generics Remains Low
A 2025 study published in a peer-reviewed clinical pharmacology journal found that patients often doubt the safety and effectiveness of generic medicines, particularly in oncology and cardiovascular care. Inconsistent communication and limited visibility into manufacturer quality were cited as key barriers to trust. Medkart’s program aims to address this gap by providing verifiable proof of quality.
Medkart Assured: A Multi-Layered Quality Protocol
Under the Medkart Assured program, procurement aligns with Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which sets Good Manufacturing Practice standards. Medkart independently audits manufacturing plants and requires every product to undergo compulsory dual testing at NABL-accredited third-party laboratories. Only after clearing these thresholds does a product earn the 'Medkart Assured' tag, displayed both in-store and online. Pharmacists are trained to explain quality differences and address patient doubts, while an in-app comparison tool aids informed decision-making.
“We don't ask patients to trust us - we show them why they can. Independent audits, two rounds of third-party testing, and only then the Medkart Assured tag. We would rather publish our rejection rate than hide behind a logo,” said Parasharan Chari, Co-founder of Medkart Pharmacy.
Planned Quality Transparency Report
Building on the program, Medkart intends to publish a Medkart Assured Quality & Transparency Report detailing the volume of batches tested, the proportion rejected, therapy areas covered, and testing protocols. Such a disclosure from a pharmacy retailer is rare in India, and Medkart frames it as an open invitation to scrutiny rather than a request for blind faith.
“The country is rightly worried about medicine quality. The answer is not to fear generics - it is to demand proof. We are putting our proof on the table and inviting everyone to raise the bar with us,” said Ankur Agarwal, Co-founder of Medkart Pharmacy.
A Call for Industry-Wide Standards
Medkart positions the initiative as a standard for the category, not a verdict on any individual manufacturer or competitor. The company’s message to patients is clear: affordability and safety should never be a trade-off, and the way to prove it is to show the work.
