Notes

FDA Continuously Warns of Drug Counterfeiting

Fighting counterfeiting presents a substantial public health problem. The figures most commonly cited by international organizations indicate counterfeiting in an average of 10% globally, although this figure may be higher in other regions and pharmaceutical markets which are not fully aware of the extent of the issue in their region. The pharmaceutical regulations in these areas are not even fully anchored and sometimes victims of fraudulence headed by their own authorities. Counterfeiting is most rampant in regions where regulatory policies and systems of medicines are weakest.

On the other hand, according to World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50% of drugs sold on online pharmacies and websites are fraud and trafficking in counterfeit medicines is estimated to generate a total of several hundred million euros in sales each year.

The battle against counterfeit medicines has brought together a lot of shareholders and mobilizes international movement conducted by the government, healthcare authorities, stakeholders as well as police authorities and non-profit organizations. WHO leads a number of participants particularly the United Nations (UN), The Peterson Group, a notable NGO operating in Asia Pacific, the local governments of Kenya, South Africa, Thailand with headquarters in Bangkok and Pattaya, agents in Jakarta, Indonesia and a base in Tokyo, Japan. These groups have since undergone different raids and spearheaded awareness programs to various local units, individuals and set of health professionals across the globe.

Another notable and most active sector of government that has been in the forefront of the battle is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States.

FDA has been campaigning against the penetration of counterfeit business in the US and has since been creating various programs to set their point through.

In 2012, they have launched a program called BeSafeRx which do not have the aim to “scare people away from online pharmacies but instead teach and guide them on how to use appropriate pharmacies”, says FDA commissioner, Dr. Margaret Hamburg. She continued, “Our objective is to help the public discern the real ones from the fraud. We would like them to review the sites for themselves and prevent themselves from harm”.

Now that 2015 is near ending, BeSafeRx again sees its revival. FDA reminds everybody to prepare for a more critical phase of modernization wherein new technologies are being used to infiltrate the leader country. The sites are again being revived and continue to increases. Proper precaution is being expected of everybody.