The problem of counterfeit medicines is generally associated with buying medicines online. The general advice, therefore, is always to procure drugs through authorized channels, therefore pharmacies or parapharmacies present throughout the country. But is buying at the pharmacy always safe? It would seem not. And some recent news stories, such as the contaminated heparin that caused several deaths in the United States, are there to confirm it. The problem is that the drug supply chain is long, sometimes too long, and counterfeits are a danger that must always be kept in mind. Things would be different if the pharmacist were able to authenticate medicines at the time of sale, in order to protect the consumer from the possibility of receiving counterfeit or inferior medicines. Such a system already exists and the first tests carried out on its effectiveness seem positive.
The system is called AegateProtect™. It is, as the site that presents it explains, a communication service designed to guarantee patient safety and which makes it possible to verify the identity and authenticity of each individual medicine when it is dispensed by the pharmacist and to provide all relevant safety or regulatory information before delivering the product to the patient. The results of the first verification carried out on the system demonstrate that the authentication procedure is reliable to the 100% and constitutes an effective method for identifying authentic, withdrawn from the market, expired or suspicious medicines in the pharmacy. Conducted independently by the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) - informs a note - the verification study of the Aegate system, which allows the authentication of medicines when they are dispensed by the pharmacist and the identification of counterfeit medicines, was carried out in Belgium and Greece and delivered significant results. Although, in fact, there is awareness and interest in the safety of patients exposed to the risks of counterfeit medicines, there is still no agreement between industries and health authorities on how to protect the supply chain of pharmaceutical products. "The results of the verification carried out - comments Guido Hoogewijs, General Manager of the Belgian Pharmacists Association - represent a fundamental step in the actions undertaken to prevent harmful medicines from ending up in the hands of patients. The Aegate system enhances our efforts as it provides additional tools to eliminate inauthentic, withdrawn from the market, expired or close to expiry packages". "The safety of pharmaceutical products - says John Chave, general secretary of the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) - is of fundamental importance for the members of the PGEU and represents a crucial problem that will be addressed at the European Union level. Any initiative in able to reduce the risks arising from counterfeit products and to promote patient safety is warmly welcomed". Marco Malagutti, source: www.pharmamarketing.it
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