THE National Task Force for the Eradication of Spurious and Substandard Therapeutic Goods (NTF) deserves praise for its decisive launch of a month-long nationwide campaign to combat the scourge of counterfeit and substandard medical products. There is a need to have more such campaigns on a regular basis. The collaborative effort with provincial governments and the administrations of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) represents a critical response to a life-threatening issue that undermines both public health and trust in Pakistan`s healthcare system.

Targeted inspections of pharmacies, wholesalers, hospitals and high-risk facilitieshad beenlong overdue.Such measures on a consistent basis would help dismantle networks profiting from illegal trade in dangerous therapeutic goods, and it is imperative that offenders be made toface stringentlegalconsequences.

However, past initiatives, though wellintentioned, have sometimes fallen short, yielding limited results or inadvertently burdening compliant small businesses. To ensure such campaigns avoid the pitfalls, the authorities must prioritise transparency, proportionality and due process.

Clear guidelines for inspections, coupled with public oversight mechanisms, could safeguard against overreach, while focusing efforts on systemic violators.

Public engagement, awareness and reporting of suspicious products are equally vital. For lasting change, however, such a drive must evolve into sustained action.

Regulatory gaps, corruption, and weak enforcement perpetuate this crisis. And addressing these root causes requires a consistent and focused political will.

Ahmad Fakir Muhammad Karachi