August 3, 2020
The COVID-19 crisis has fueled the surge of not only fake face masks and other medical products related to the pandemic but also counterfeit medicines, especially those over-the-counter (OTC) or sold without prescription. As COVID-19 cases continue to increase globally, so are the counterfeiters who are exploiting the growing gaps in the market.
Recently, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an advisory against the purchase and use of counterfeit drugs.
A counterfeit drug is a fake drug. Counterfeit drugs are those with the wrong or contaminated ingredients, with the correct ingredients but wrong amounts, or without the active ingredients. They can also be mislabeled, and can apply to both generic and branded products. In addition, they are not registered with the FDA and did not go through validation and standard tests to confirm their quality, safety, and efficacy. Selling or offering for sale of such is a violation of R.A. 8203 and FDA Act of 2009. It is also against intellectual property.
Among the recently reported counterfeit drugs is paracetamol. In the country, it is famously seen in huge advertisements and is commonly used for pain or fever. Although some health authorities argue on the use of paracetamol in this pandemic, many experts around the world recommend the use of fever-lowering over-the-counter medicines to cope with COVID-19 symptoms.
There are many ways to identify an authentic drug from fake. The physical signs serve as the quickest markers. These include the color, size, weight, and design of both the drug and its packaging. It is also essential to examine the appearance of foil and other parts of the packaging such as logo, lot/batch number, expiration date, and security features such as hologram. It is preferable that the product in question is compared side-by-side to an authentic medicine rather than relying on memory. Also, check for any misspelling or questionable directions especially in the leaflet, and if the manufacturer’s address is traceable. Additionally, counterfeit drugs have a strange smell or taste, and they crack easily. When the counterfeit drug is already taken, a feeling that something is wrong may occur, such as an unexpected reaction. It is advisable to buy medications from establishments with a license to operate from the FDA. Be in two minds if the price is lower than usual, especially those found online or black market. Being able to identify an authentic drug from fake is the first step in the war against fake drugs and avoid a parallel pandemic of counterfeit drugs.
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently warned the public of three “voodoo” anti-cancer products by the name of Aro Baro Churo Organic Tea, Aro Guyabano Tea, and Aro Baro Churo Guyabano Capsules. These products are not registered with FDA either as herbal medicines or food supplements. DOH-FDA Advisory No. 2013-004, stated that these products are now distributed throughout the country with boasts that they are 100,000 times stronger than chemotherapy and that they contain Adriamycin that can kill cancer cells, among other claims. Acting on the issue, the FDA with the help of local government units implemented measures such as strict monitoring and on the spot inspections to remove these products from the market nationwide. Unfortunately, this incident is just one of the several instances when herbal products are sold without FDA approval or with sales talks not consistent with the FDA approval. Since many popular health products in the market are registered wit
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