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2004

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SPECIAL REPORT

 October 18, 2004

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Excalibur PR Mgt. Consultants

 

 

Protect yourself against fake drugs...     buy only registered products...     buy only from lisenced pharmacies and drug stores...

 

 

 

 

 

Counterfeit drugs, 

a global menace

 

More...    

Counterfeit and substandard

drugs

proliferate

in many

parts of

the world

 

A

counterfeit drug is defined as one that is "deliberately and fraudulently mislabeled with respect to identity or source." It may include products that contain the wrong ingredients but have fake packaging or false claims as to manufacturer or patent rights. The definition can apply for both branded and generic medicines.

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An attack on People's health

Making and selling fake drugs is not only a violation of trade regulations; it is a violation of people' health and their right to be cured of their illness. Dr. Budiono Santoso, World Health Organization (WHO) regional adviser in Pharmaceuticals for Western Pacific, made the statement early last year in reference to the wide spread proliferation of counterfeit an substandard drugs in many part of the world.

"The increasing problem of counterfeit drugs is affecting the health of many people," said Dr. Santoso. Although the problem affects developed countries, it is more extensive in the developing countries, where individual resources for medicines and health care are limited.

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Preying on the poor

Dr. Santoso pointed out that it is in countries where medicines are paid out by the people from their own pockets (and not by insurance) that counterfeit drug usually thrive, because people will naturally look for cheaper medicines. And it is sad to note that the poor people, who are usually the ones who experience the highest health risks, are the ones who are most often victimized.

"Another sad fact is that very important groups of medicines - anti-malaria drugs, antibiotics, and drugs consumed in big quantities - are being faked," said Truls Eriksen, a pharmacist and technical consultant of WHO.

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International syndicate..

According to Dr. Santoso, counterfeit drug producers and dealers may operate in one country at one time then move to another country the next. Normally, fake drugs proliferate in countries where there are no effective legislations and regulations against counterfeit drugs or where these are not strictly enforced. This is the case in many Asian countries. Fake drugs are also easier to move in and out of countries that have cross borders.

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Stricter government measures

Dr. Santoso stressed the need for comprehensive strategies against drug counterfeiting, including effective legislation, strict registration of products, quality assurance mechanisms, and good enforcement.

WHO's role is to develop the strategies and guidelines, facilitate their dissemination and adoption, and provide technical support. But it is up to the individual countries to enforce these. "The main problem in some countries is their capacity to enforce; for instance, their laboratory facilities may have limited capability to do the needed tests," Santoso noted.

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Let's put more teeth to the law

At present, the extent of control varies among countries, like Malaysia, which performs post-marketing surveillance to track the movement of sold drugs. However, not all countries have this capability. 

In the Philippines, there is a special law imposing penalties against counterfeit drugs, but no assessment has been made as to how effective the law has been in actually preventing the sale of fake drugs in the country. Officials of the Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD) have cited the lack of manpower and resources for nationwide surveillance of fake drug dealers. Fake medicines have been found in "boticas" that do not have licensed pharmacists as frontliners.

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Consumer vigilance

At the level of consumers, it is difficult for lay people to distinguish between fake and genuine drugs, but some degree of protection can be achieved by: 1.) buying only registered products; and 2.) buying only from licensed pharmacies and drugstores.

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A broader united front against fake drugs

The proliferation of counterfeit drugs is a serious problem that affects the health of individuals, the overall health status of the nation and the development potentials of its citizenry. "The problem cannot be eliminated by the pharmaceutical sector alone," says Dr. Santoso. (Excalibur News)  

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