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Anti-Counterfeit Drug Campaign
Issue N91
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Iss nt E er W ue fe S N it L Dr ET 91 ug T C a ER m pa ign
Anti-Counterfeit Drug Campaign
Summary
Manufacturers asked to reduce drug prices to fight counterfeits The Possible Dangers of Buying Medicines over the Internet: Are we aware?
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Ghana: FightingCounterfeit Drugs in the Country Qatar to issue law against counterfeit drugs Bouderbala: of imports counterfeit 60% are
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Ghanas challenge seemed to be more a question of enforcement and the application of deterrent sanctions following convictions in court. The Food and Drug Boards Thomas Amedzro lamented individuals caught red handed dealing in counterfeits and yet hardly being slapped with the maximum 500 penalty units or the 600 GH . In one instance, after working extra hard to secure convictions, the convict was jailed for one week and then released which was a big demotivator to the anti counterfeit fight not to mention sending all the wrong signals to patrons of the thriving illegal trade.
of their regulatory role. It is time to begin to pay more attention to building the regulatory role capacity.
Public education
It is noteworthy that Ghanas Food and Drugs Board following its recent proactiveness in the area of enforcement has decided to embark on a massive public education exercise. This should be comprehensive, focusing not just on the ways of combating counterfeits medications but on the harmful effects of the drugs on the man on the street who must be aided with basic street wise tools in detecting features of counterfeit medication. In addition, better collaboration ought to be built among all stakeholders including key ones like doctors, pharmacists who remain key in procuring medications for health institutions and dispensing same to clients etc. The public must know that every counterfeit detected is one life saved. They must know how a woman ordered a drug online and died the next day with fifteen times the normal aluminum levels being detected in her liver.
SMS technology
Use of text messaging services and portable devices like the truscan which require little/no technical expertise can ensure massive utilization at the ports, among providers, pharmaceutical companies etc in addition to the usual impromptu checks of undetermined effectiveness. Nigeria for example reports the existence and their use of a program that enables a text message to be sent to a code with a prompt reply confirming the genuineness or otherwise of a particular product. Given intelligence indications of an observed shift of some barons from narcotics trade into counterfeit manufacturing, spurred by enviable profit margins and reduced security vigilance, now is a good time to join up our efforts at all levels. ACDC 3
Reference: Sodzi-Tettey S. Ghana: Fighting counterfeit drugs in the country. The Chronicle. 13 Jun 11. Accessed on 15 Jun 2011. Available at http://allafrica.com/stories/201106150102.html.
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Reference: Toumi H. Qatar to issue law against counterfeit drugs. Gulf News. 14 Jun 2011. Accessed on 15 Jun 2011. Available at http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/qatar/qatar-to-issue-law-against-counterfeit-drugs-1.821470.
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Reference: Reference: Bouderbala: 60% of imports are counterfeit [in Algiers]. Ennahar Online. 14 Jun 2011. Accessed on 15 Jun 2011. Available at http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/economy/6814.html.
Reference: Lyatuu J. Manufacturers asked to reduce drug prices to fight counterfeits. Daily Monitor. 16 June 2011. Accessed on 15 June 2011. Available at http://www.monitor.co.ug/Business/Commodities/-/688610/1181716/-/ch242r/-/.
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Are we aware?
A counterfeit medication or a counterfeit drug is a medication or pharmaceutical product which is produced and sold with the intent to deceptively represent its origin, authenticity or effectiveness. A counterfeit drug may contain inappropriate quantities of active ingredients, or none, may be improperly processed within the body (e.g., absorption by the body), may contain ingredients that are not on the label (which may or may not be harmful), or may be supplied with inaccurate or fake packaging and labeling. Medicines which are deliberately mislabeled in order to deceive consumersincluding mislabeled but otherwise genuine generic drugsare counterfeit. Counterfeit drugs are related to Pharma Fraud. As we know that medicines are sold over the internet are we aware that this might not be safe? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to warn consumers about the possible dangers of buying medicines over the Internet. Some websites sell prescription and over-the-counter drugs that may not be safe to use and could put peoples health at risk. So how can you protect yourself? FDA says that consumers should know how to recognize a legal Internet pharmacy and how to buy medicines online safely.
rogue websites that offer to sell potentially dangerous drugs that have not been checked for safety or effectiveness. Though a rogue site may look professional and legitimate, it could actually be an illegal operation. These rogue sites often sell unapproved drugs, drugs that contain the wrong active ingredient, drugs that may contain too much or too little of the active ingredient, or drugs that contain dangerous ingredients. For example, FDA purchased and analyzed several products that were represented online as Tamiflu (oseltamivir). One of the orders, which arrived in an unmarked envelope with a postmark from India, consisted of unlabeled, white tablets. When analyzed by FDA, the tablets were found to contain talc and acetaminophen, but none of the active ingredient oseltamivir. FDA also became aware of a number of people who placed orders over the Internet for one of the following products: Ambien (zolpidem tartrate) Xanax (alprazolam) Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate) Ativan (lorazepam) Instead of receiving the drug they ordered, several customers received products containing what was identified as foreign versions of Haldol (haloperidol), a powerful anti-psychotic drug. As a result, these customers needed emergency medical treatment for symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, muscle spasms, and muscle stiffnessall problems that can occur with haloperidol.
Dont Be Deceived
Buying prescription and over-the-counter drugs on the Internet from a company you dont know means you may not know exactly what youre getting. There are many websites that operate legally and offer convenience, privacy, and safeguards for purchasing medicines. But there are also many ACDC 6
Other websites sell counterfeit drugs that may look exactly like real FDA-approved medicines, but their quality and safety are unknown. Signs of a trustworthy website Its located in your country. Its licensed by the state board of pharmacy where the website is operating. A list of these boards is available at the website of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. It has a licensed pharmacist available to answer your questions. It requires a prescription for prescription medicines from your doctor or another health care professional who is licensed to prescribe medicines. It provides contact information and allows you to talk to a person if you have problems or questions. Another way to check on a website is to look for the National Association of Boards of Pharmacys (NABP) Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites Seal, also known as the VIPPS Seal. This seal means that the Internet pharmacy is safe to use because it has met state licensure requirements, as well as other NABP criteria. Visit the VIPPS website to find legitimate pharmacies that carry the VIPPS seal.
Counterfeit Drugs
Counterfeit drugs are fake or copycat products that can be difficult to identify. The deliberate and fraudulent practice of counterfeiting can apply to both brand name and generic products, where the identity of the source is often mislabeled in a way that suggests it is the authentic approved product. Counterfeit drugs may be contaminated not help the condition or disease the medicine is intended to treat lead to dangerous side effects contain the wrong active ingredient be made with the wrong amounts of ingredients contain no active ingredients at all or contain too much of an active ingredient be packaged in phony packaging that looks legitimate For example, counterfeit versions of the FDAapproved weight loss drug Xenical, which contains the active ingredient orlistat, recently were obtained by three consumers from two different websites.
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Laboratory analysis showed that the capsules that the consumers received contained the wrong active ingredient, sibutramine. Sibutramine is the active ingredient of a different medicine called Meridia, a prescription drug also approved by FDA to help obese people lose weight and maintain weight loss. In addition, sibutramine is classified as a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration because of its potential for abuse and misuse. Using medicine that contains an active ingredient that wasnt prescribed by your licensed health care provider may be harmful.
FDA continues to proactively protect consumers from counterfeit drugs. The agency is working with drug manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers to identify and prevent counterfeit drugs. FDA also is exploring the use of modern technologies and other measures that will make it more difficult for counterfeit drugs to get mixed up with, or deliberately substituted for, safe and effective medicines. For more information on this topic, visit FDAs Web page on Counterfeit Medicine.
Dont buy from websites that offer to prescribe a drug for the first time without a physical exam by your doctor or by answering an online questionnaire.
Dont buy from websites that sell prescription drugs without a prescription.
Use legitimate websites that have a licensed pharmacist to answer your question.
Check with your state board of pharmacy or the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to see if an online pharmacy has a valid pharmacy license and meets state quality standards. Look for privacy Make sure that the website will not sell and security your personal information, unless you policies that agree. are easy to find and easy to understand. For more information please visit on FDAs Consumer Updates page, this features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.
Dont give any personal informationsuch as a social security number, credit card information, or medical or health historyunless you are sure the website will keep your information safe and private.
Reference: Reference: The Possible Dangers of Buying Medicines over the Internet: Are we aware? FDA.gov. Accessed on 15 Jun 2011. Available at http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048396.htm.
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