Ellen Campbell Grizzle - Pharmacy Today FAKE OR counterfeit drugs are a serious concern to the pharmaceutical industry worldwide. In 1996, at least 88 children died in Haiti and Nigeria after taking spurious medicinal syrups that contained diethylene glycol, an industrial solvent. Several other cases have been reported.
This was once thought to be a Third World problem. However, the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) recently announced additional measures to combat the problem in America by tightening the drug distribution chain.
Jamaicans are taking a major risk when they buy medicines from "sidewalk drug stores", off the Web or from other unregistered premises or persons. In these circumstances, there is every possibility of buying and taking medicines of compromised quality. Fake drugs are not made by the authorised manufacturer but are presented to the consumer as if they are authentic products. They may contain less than the claimed quantity of active ingredient or no active ingredient at all. Some have expired and have a different label placed over the previous one. Active ingredients may be changed. In one such case, an anti-ulcer counterfeit drug containing aspirin caused a patient's stomach ulcer to bleed and become infected.
Fake drugs are a menace. In some cases, there is theft of an innovator's intellectual property. The loss to the industry is estimated to be five per cent of the world's pharmaceutical market. The industry has responded by trying to safeguard products by making products and packaging difficult to copy. Various authentication systems are used to deter the counterfeiter. Minilabs are now sold that perform quick analysis on many essential drugs and other medicines including antiretrovirals (ARVs) used to treat HIV/AIDS.
The stakes are high for consumers and many have lost lives because of counterfeit drugs. Pharmacists advise the following ABCs to avoid buying or taking fake drugs:-
A Always access medication from registered pharmacies or pharmacists. Pharmacists are trained to be the final quality assurance point in product delivery and so may recognise some "fingerprints" that indicate a compromised medicine
B Before taking your medication, inspect the package. If it is sealed, make sure the seal is intact. Check expiration dates and general product labelling for signs of tampering.
C Contact your pharmacist or doctor if you experience any unexpected reaction to your medication, if the taste is different or side effects vary from your previous course.
There is no 'magic bullet' that will prevent fake drugs from seeping into the authentic drug distribution chain. There is evidence that the illegal drug trade has found ways to subvert regulations that protect against drug tampering. The high cost of many life-saving drugs and consumer's need for affordable prices provides a zone that counterfeiters exploit.
Jamaican pharmacists have a good record of deterring counterfeit products. This has been done through a regulatory system in which pharmacists have used their knowledge of the drug manufacturing process to benefit and protect consumers. The integrity of the drug distribution trade in Jamaica is maintained as most pharmacies buy medication from registered distributors. Further, many take time to familiarise themselves with the signs of a product's 'pedigree'. If any problem is noted, pharmacists inform their distributor and share information with each other. There are plans to strengthen this system through the establishment of an Information Centre in the Faculty of Pharmacy and the Health Sciences at the University of Technology (UTech).
Remember, fake drugs can be dangerous. Globalisation and efforts to increase world trade give counterfeiters a greater opportunity to exploit systems. In Jamaica, pharmacists report that there are some signs that products are being diverted into unregistered premises and 'sidewalk drug stores'. Consumers must continue to be vigilant in the protection of their health and welfare. If you want to know more about fake drugs, ask your pharmacist, you have the right to know!
Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, President of the Caribbean Association of Pharmacists (CAP) and Director, Information and Research, National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), Kingston, Jamaica.
