What are Counterfeit Medicines? Risks and Prevention Methods
Counterfeit medicines are products that contain incorrect, incomplete, or false active ingredients, have expired expiration dates, or are marketed as real medicines. The use of counterfeit medicines can lead to serious health risks and even fatal consequences.
These drugs are produced without the knowledge of the original drug manufacturers and are often made in low-cost, unhealthy, and uncontrolled environments.
How to Identify Counterfeit Medicines?
✅ Be cautious of medicines sold at unrealistically low prices. (Medicines sold well below the price set by the Ministry of Health may be counterfeit.)
✅ Carefully examine the packaging and label. (Check for smudges, scratches, changes, or misspellings.)
✅ The expiration date may have been altered. (Some counterfeiters change the labels of nearly expired medicines to sell them as new.)
✅ There may be differences in the packaging. (Pay attention to details like paper texture, label size, paper quality, and gloss.)
✅ Compare the packaging and appearance with a previous purchase of the same medicine.
If counterfeit medicine is detected, it should be reported immediately to the doctor, pharmacy, drug manufacturer, and the Ministry of Health.
What Should Be Done to Protect Against Counterfeit Medicines?
- Medicines should only be purchased from licensed pharmacies.
- Avoid purchasing medicines online or from street vendors.
- Medicine distribution channels must be reliable and subject to strict oversight.
- Medicines should not be sourced from unauthorized warehouses.
- Legal penalties against counterfeit drug manufacturers should be increased and made deterrent.
Patients should obtain their medicines only from pharmacies or trusted healthcare institutions.
Negative Effects of Counterfeit Medicines
- Can lead to serious health problems. (Medicines containing incorrect or incomplete active ingredients may cause treatment failure.)
- Can cause poisoning. (Some counterfeit medicines contain toxic substances, posing life-threatening risks.)
- Medicines with no positive or negative effects can negatively impact the treatment process.
- Can affect the immune system, leading to the progression of the disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that counterfeit medicines are a major global public health problem.
How Widespread is the Counterfeit Medicine Problem?
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 7% of medicines worldwide are counterfeit.
Counterfeit medicine rates in certain regions: ✅ Africa: Can reach up to 80%. (Especially malaria medicines are commonly counterfeited.)
✅ Developing Countries: It is estimated that about 50% of medicines are counterfeit.
✅ USA and Europe: Counterfeit cholesterol medications, cancer drugs, and antibiotics have been identified.
✅ China and India: A large portion of the world's counterfeit medicines are produced here.
Counterfeiters typically imitate the most commonly sold medicines.
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