COUNTERFEIT MEDICINES FLOODING MARKETS

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INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD

Annual Report Press Release

1 March 2007

0001 hours GMT

 

INCB WARNS OF COUNTERFEIT MEDICINES FLOODING MARKETS

 

Action needs to be taken to curb unregulated market, Board warns

in Annual Report. The Vienna-based International Narcotics Control

Board (INCB) today warned that the flood of counterfeit

medicines now available in many countries could have fatal

consequences for consumers. In itsAnnual Report released today

(1 March 2007), the Board also called on member States to enforce

legislation to ensure that narcotic drugs and psychotropic

substances are not illegally manufactured ordiverted from

licitmanufacture and distribution channels to unregulated markets.

The danger of unregulated markets is the theme of chapter one of the

Annual Report. The Board is calling for it to be addressed on a

priority basis. The existence of unregulated markets means that

substandard, and sometimes even lethal medication is sold to the

unsuspecting consumer. Unregulated markets are often supplied with

stolen and diverted drugs, illicitly manufactured pharmaceuticals or

through illegal sales on the Internet and distributed through the

mail and courier services. Apart from consumers who purchase

pharmaceuticals containing controlled substances on the unregulated

market because of limited access to health care facilities or lower

prices, persons dependent on and abusing such medicationsmake use of

unregulated markets to obtain them without prescription.

" Besides the fact that the existence of unregulated markets, the sale

of diverted and counterfeit drugs and the purchase of drugs

containing controlled substances without prescription contravenes

international treaties on drug control, it is important for consumers

to realize that what they think is a cut-price medication bought on

an unregulated market may however have potentially lethal effects

whenever the consumed drugs are not the genuine product or are taken

without medical advice. Instead of healing, they can take lives, "

said Dr. Philip O. Emafo, President, INCB. This danger is real and

sizeable. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 25-50

per cent of medicines consumed in developing countries are believed

to be counterfeit. The problem is further compounded by the fact that

counterfeit drugs are easy to manufacture – they can resemble genuine

drugs in packaging, and labelling. Unknowing clients have experienced

serious health or even lethal consequences; for instance, in Africa,

the use of counterfeit vaccines in 1995 resulted in 2,500 deaths.

Narcotics, benzodiazepines, amphetamines and other internationally

controlled drugs are easily available in streetmarkets in several

developing countries. In developed countries, these drugs are sold via

illegal Internet pharmacies, without the mandatory prescriptions.

" The problem of counterfeit medication and abuse of pharmaceuticals

containing controlled substances bought without prescriptions, has

been in existence for some time. However, the rapid expansion

of unregulated markets has dramatically worsened the situation, " said

Dr. Emafo.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD

Annual Report Press Release No. 2

1 March 2007

0001 hours GMT

 

The unregulated market broadly covers two scenarios: unlicensed

individuals and/or entities conducting illegal trade of

pharmaceutical products containing controlled substances – for

instance, a street vendor selling a controlled drug, such as a

narcotic drug, a stimulant or a sedative in a village fair; and,

licensed individuals and/or entities contravening laws to sell

controlled drugs, such as a pharmacist who sells controlled drugs

without asking for a prescription. The Board has called on member

States to enforce existing legislation, to impede thismenace, and also

take appropriate measures to increase the availability of medicinal

drugs through legitimate channels, particularly in areas where there

is lack of access.

 

 

INCB

Web Address: www.incb.org