Whistle-blowers who alert government agencies about those manufacturing or selling illegal drugs will be rewarded with cash prize of up to Rs 25 lakh.

India accounts for 35% of spurious drugs in the world. Some fake drugs are passed off as life-saving ones and some as antibiotics and gastroenteritis tablets.

In an attempt to curb a flourishing racket in spurious drugs, the health ministry has come out with a reward scheme. A reward of up to 20% of total cost of consignment seized will be payable to whistle blowers. The amount should not exceed Rs 25 lakh in each case, a ministry statement said. The scheme will be applicable to seizure of spurious medicines, cosmetics and medical devices.

With a view to ensure that informers are not made to wait till the final disposal of the matter, 25% of the amount will be given at the time of filing of the charge sheet in a court of law, the statement said. To deter informers from turning hostile during the trail, 25% of the reward money will be given after the case is settled in favour of the government. The remaining 50% will be paid only when the case has been finally disposed of in favour of the government and no appeal is pending in any other court of law in the country.

"Officials from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, if eligible for the cash rewards, will not get more than Rs 500,000 per case and Rs 20 lakh in their entire career," the statement said.

In August, the ministry had announced that offenders will now face life imprisonment or fine of Rs 10 lakh or three times the value of the drugs confiscated, whichever is more.

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