Counterfeit Medicine – A Growing Problem

Counterfeit medicines – something even medical alert bracelets can’t guard you aha inst – were first addressed at an international level as a problem over 25 years ago at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Conference in 1985. Over the last 25 years the problem has grown and healthcare professionals now believe they have become a major problem and concern for the international community.

The problem has grown with more than 2,000 cases of counterfeit medicines detected around the world, but probably of more concern was the 350 which were discovered in Europe in 2009. This growing problem is an issue for many reasons but most importantly counterfeit medicines cause thousands of deaths every year, which could be avoided if legitimate medicine had been taken.  Other issues attached with counterfeit medicine are the effect it has on economy and trade.

Recent research suggests that adults in the UK are buying counterfeit medicines from illicit websites with more than one in seven British adults of the 205 surveyed admitting that they had purchased prescription medicine without a prescription – (which amounts to 15%).

As a result of this information in November a campaign was launched to educate people on the risks of purchasing counterfeit medicine with the “Get Real, Get A Prescription” with shocking statistics.  They believe that between 50 to 90 % of medicine sold without a prescription or through unregulated websites are counterfeit.  With people buying medicine in this way because they believe they are getting it cheaper, faster and having a wider range of choice but the cold hard facts are that counterfeit pills are very dangerous.

Counterfeit medicine (or fake medicine) may be contaminated, contain the wrong ingredients or as with meaning of fake would suggest not contain an active ingredient to help resolve the reason for the medication.  Taking counterfeit medicine can result in death or serious injury, with the most vulnerable in the world being most affected.  By combining information the government and healthcare professionals have learnt a lot and are looking at ways to help stop counterfeit medicine.

The pharmaceutical wholesale sector across Europe already has rules in place to make it extremely difficult for counterfeit medicine to enter legitimate supply and many have recently joined the WHO to stand united to help combat the problem.

As always the most important aspect of the problem is that it is putting patients’ safety and health at risk, with a combined network of healthcare professionals it is likely that the problem can be reduced and hopefully contained.  But if you have medicine which you are unsure of there is a website that will help you identify counterfeit medicine and report it so that it is not available for other people to buy called Pillbox.

Helen Parker attends medical events and conferences across the UK with the most recent talk being given by Ornella Barra.  For more information on counterfeit medicine please visit Pillbox