Avoiding them is easy. The drugs that can be purchased in pharmacies and authorized points of sale are controlled throughout their journey, from production to consumption by the patient. Each package for sale in legal channels has an identification stamp from which the history of the product can be traced
FROM DELILA BEATRICE 14 SEPTEMBER 2015 – in health news
In recent years, the phenomenon of the production and sale of counterfeit medicines has developed exponentially, presenting today a rapidly growing trend, no longer limited to developing countries only, but also concerning industrialized countries.
Considering that counterfeiting involves branded drugs and generic drugs, life-saving and "life style saving" medicines, it is easy to understand how the phenomenon has now reached such proportions as to represent a serious public health problem, as well as a huge economic damage.
Europe, especially Switzerland, is also becoming an important platform of this gigantic illicit and dangerous business. Among the various episodes reported in the news, the one in which one million samples of fake Xanax, one of the most widespread anxiolytics, were seized at Zurich airport, one of the most widespread anxiolytics, destined for Egypt.
To increase this criminal business, then, the "contribution" provided by the Internet and the advent of e-commerce, which has favored the proliferation of fake online pharmacies, responsible in most cases for the marketing of counterfeit medicines. In this regard, we recall that the Council of Ministers has approved a decree law which also adapts our country to the community directive 2011/62 on the falsification of medicines: according to the new legislation, only medicines without a prescription and only from part of the authorized pharmacies, which must be traced and identifiable, and the Ministry of Health will have the possibility, with the collaboration of the Nas, to block the portals that operate illicit marketing. Through this system it will be possible to prevent the placing on the market and circulation on the national territory of falsified medicines, potentially dangerous for the health of patients.
Let's go deeper into the subject with Colonel Antonio Carideo, Head of the Logistics Office at the Campania Carabinieri Legion in Naples.
Colonel Carideo, what is meant by counterfeit medicines and why are they dangerous?
Counterfeit medicines can cause serious harm and even be fatal because they are medicines manufactured without complying with safety, quality and efficacy standards. They may have the correct ingredients but of unknown origin and quality, in other cases, the important ingredients are absent or in insufficient dosage or are replaced by less expensive ingredients. Even life-saving drugs have been diluted causing even lethal effects for patients who received insufficient doses.
Counterfeit medicines are medicines whose labeling is deliberately and fraudulently written with misleading information about the content or origin of the product. They are made maliciously, often by organized crime, and there are no guarantees on how they will be stored and transported. The quality of these products is not comparable to that of drugs distributed in legal networks and controlled by the competent authorities throughout their journey, from the manufacturer to the patient.
How can they be avoided?
Avoiding them is easy. The drugs that can be purchased in pharmacies and authorized points of sale are controlled throughout their journey, from production to consumption by the patient. They have the correct dosage, the ingredients are approved by the bodies that protect public health and they do not hide nasty surprises.
Being sure of the medicines you use is essential. You must always turn to reliable sources only!
Anyone who buys medicines in a shop or business not authorized to sell medicines, such as a gym or a beauty centre, or on an internet site or from an expert friend who is not a health professional, is exposing himself to a serious health risk.
To avoid counterfeit medicines that put our lives and those of our loved ones at risk, we must only go to pharmacies and shops authorized to sell over-the-counter and self-medication medicines.
Before buying a drug, it is advisable to check on the Ministry's website that the source is safe and also note that there is the optical stamp present since 2003 on all packages.
Colonel, what is the situation in Italy at the moment?
The presence of counterfeit medicines is increasing worldwide. In different markets, there is a presence of fake medicines of all kinds, including life-savers.
In Italy, the legal distribution network of medicines to the public - pharmacies and shops authorized to sell over-the-counter and self-medication medicines - is effectively protected by the packaging tracking systems that follow all our medicines from the manufacturer to the patient. Otherwise, uncontrolled networks are a gateway for counterfeit medicines.
IMPACT Italia has verified the quality of the products distributed through illegal channels, seized in gyms and purchased on internet sites, detecting wrong dosages, ingredients absent or different from those foreseen, contaminations, poor quality.
What is IMPACT Italy?
THE
talia is the task force, set up by resolution of the Italian Medicines Agency, which fights the counterfeiting of medicines and has brought together since 2005 the bodies that institutionally deal with the problem: the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Policies, the Italian Medicines Agency, the Higher Institute of Health and the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Health.
All the public and private institutions involved in the phenomenon of counterfeiting of medicines collaborate with IMPACT Italia: Ministry of the Interior - Central Directorate of the Criminal Police which takes care of the connections with all the police forces, the Customs Agency and other institutions. IMPACT Italia also acts in collaboration with the private rights holders of the sector.
The projects carried out by the task force were aimed at optimizing the exchange of data between administrations, for the deepening of investigations and studies, to increase the know-how of investigators through courses, reference databases, investigative procedures, and to monitor the networks from which counterfeit medicines enter Italy.
Colonel Carideo, ultimately what advice can you give to our readers?
Today the risk of counterfeit medicines is no longer a problem: this is why it is useful to explain it to everyone with correct information. Ultimately, it is important to always remember to buy a drug always and only in pharmacies and shops authorized to sell over-the-counter and self-medication medicines, as well as attempting to carefully evaluate unusual or reduced side effects and consider the possibility that the drug it may be counterfeit if you buy it outside the authorized channels.
All information about the drug you decide to take is important. It is good to know, however, that even the packaging in illegal channels could contain false information.
Being sure of the medicines you use is essential, so it is advisable to always go only to reliable sources. No one is exempt from the risk of coming across a counterfeit medicine when its origin is not known.
All suspect medicines should be set aside. Samples or even just empty boxes could be useful for the necessary checks.
Each package for sale in legal channels has an identification stamp from which the history of the product can be traced
In case of doubt or in the presence of medicines deemed to be counterfeit, it is necessary to go immediately to the nearest Carabinieri station, also to allow the investigation of the case to begin.
Delilah Beatrice
Civil engineer. Journalist. publisher
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