Counterfeit drug

A counterfeit drug or a counterfeit medicine is, according to the law of many countries, the drug that is sold under a product name without proper approval. This can mean fake medicines or generic medicines that are deliberately mislabeled so that the consumer gets the impression that it is an authentic approved product. Counterfeit products may also include products without the active ingredient, with an insufficient quantity of the active ingredient, with the wrong active ingredient, or with fake packaging.

Related Topics:
Drug - Generic medicines - Consumer - Active ingredient

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An individual who receives a counterfeit medication may be at risk for a number of dangerous health consequences. Patients may experience unexpected side effects, allergic reactions, or a worsening of their medical condition. A number of counterfeits do not contain any active ingredients, and instead contain inert substances, which do not provide the patient any treatment benefits. Counterfeit medications may also contain incorrect ingredients, improper dosages of the correct ingredients, or they may contain hazardous ingredients.

Related Topics:
Health - Side effect - Allergic reactions - Inert - Patient

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The extent of the problem of counterfeit drugs is unknown. Counterfeiting is difficult to detect, investigate, and quantify. So, it is hard to know or even estimate the true extent of the problem. What is known is that they occur worldwide and are more prevalent in developing countries. It is estimated that upwards of 10% of drugs worldwide are counterfeit, and in some countries more than 50% of the drug supply is made up of counterfeit drugs.

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There are several technologies that may prove helpful in developed countries, including radio frequency chips, taggants. For example, radio waves are used to automatically identify items, such as pharmaceutical products, by assigning individual serial numbers to each product. This technology may be capable of ensuring that drugs are not diverted or counterfeited by allowing wholesalers and pharmacists to determine the identity and dosage of individual products.

Related Topics:
Taggant - Radio wave - Serial number

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On 6 May, the Chinese press agency Xinhua reported that the World Health Organization has established Rapid Alert System (RAS), the world's first web-based system for tracking the activities of drug cheats, in light of the increasing severity of the counterfeit drugs.

Related Topics:
6 May - Chinese - Xinhua - World Health Organization - Rapid Alert System

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