Health Matters

Counterfeit Medicines

Counterfeit medicines are fake products that are manufactured and packaged to look like the authentic medication. These deliberately and fraudulently mislabeled copies of branded medicines, generic drugs or over-the-counter products pose a significant threat to the public health and patient safety as they can be ineffective, harmful and even life-threatening. Fake products offered for sale include medicines, but also vaccines and in vitro diagnostics.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people die from taking fake medicines (1)

Acino is committed to detecting and terminating relationships with distributors and retailers of counterfeit Acino medicines. We work closely with our partners and local authorities to conduct investigations every time we suspect a fake drug entering into our markets. We also continuously seek for and implement innovative measures to fight counterfeits and protect patients, such as track and trace systems, as unique serial numbers, holograms or “tamper-evident” packaging.

Safety and efficacy problem

Counterfeit medicines are not produced under safe manufacturing conditions, by well-trained and skilled employees in clean facilities that have been inspected and approved by regulatory authorities. They may contain wrong ingredients and dosages (sometimes no active ingredient at all) and can as a result affect your health, or even be fatal.

According to Interpol, “some fake medicines have been found to contain mercury, arsenic, rat poison, or cement.” (2)

Only legitimate medicines can guarantee that you are receiving the treatment that you need, bringing the expected therapeutic benefit and helping in your recovery.

Rising issue

Globalisation opened up new opportunities for criminal to distribute their products and accelerated the proliferation of counterfeiting pharmaceutical drugs. This trend has been further accentuated with the rapid growth of the e-commerce after the pandemic and the rising number of online pharmacies.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “one in 10 medical products in low- and middle-income countries is substandard or falsified” and these counterfeit products also contribute to antimicrobial resistance and drug-resistant infections. (3)

How to prevent health burden?

The greatest gift you can give yourself and your loved ones is a healthy you. Take care of your body and focus on living the highest quality of life you can through your daily choices.

At Acino, we have longstanding knowledge which we want to share with you. Explore our materials to raise your awareness, and make decisions to stay healthy and to improve your quality of life.

Reduce your risk

Always buy your medicines from a legitimate pharmacy and pharmacist. Never order prescription drugs on social media, and avoid buying prescription drugs from websites that only need you to fill out an online form without requiring a valid prescription.

Some falsified medical products are very difficult to detect. Check out the advice to patients and consumers shared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Talk to your doctor or other healthcare professional if you have concerns or questions about your medication, especially if you notice a different side effect, flavor, consistency, or appearance.

Medical Information Requests about Acino Products

For scientific or medical questions on Acino products, please complete and submit the form via the button below.

If you have any questions about your condition or Acino product recommendation, talk to your doctor or healthcare professional. The information provided should not take the place of talking with your doctor or healthcare professional.

Help fighting fake

Spread the word – inform your family members and friends about the danger of counterfeit products.

Join us on Facebook and participate in the Fight the Fakes campaign that seeks to educate the public on the risks posed by counterfeit medicines, and share your story with them.

Report your suspicion to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, and inform you doctor of any adverse reaction to a medicine.

Pharmacovigilance

At Acino we take the safety of our patients very seriously. We know that side effects can happen, but it is not always possible to predict who will experience them. We continuously monitor the safety of our products. In case you experience a side effect after using an Acino product, please report it to us.

Last update: 29 November 2023

References

1. Fake medicines kill almost 500,00 sub-Saharan Africans a year: UNODC report. United Nations. Available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/02/1133062 (last accessed 29.11.2023)
2. Fake medicines – Interpol. Available at: https://www.interpol.int/en/Crimes/Illicit-goods/Shop-safely/Fake-medicines (last accessed 26.04.2023)
3. Substandard and falsified medical products – World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/substandard-and-falsified-medical-products (last accessed 29.11.2023)

 

This website does not provide medical advice

All content on this website is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have questions about your medical condition or treatment, always seek advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare professional.

Medical Information Requests about Acino Products

For scientific or medical questions on Acino products, please complete and submit the form via the button below.

If you have any questions about your condition or Acino product recommendation, talk to your doctor or healthcare professional. The information provided should not take the place of talking with your doctor or healthcare professional.

Pharmacovigilance

At Acino we take the safety of our patients very seriously. We know that side effects can happen, but it is not always possible to predict who will experience them. We continuously monitor the safety of our products. In case you experience a side effect after using an Acino product, please report it to us.

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