Beware of fake drugs and drugs of unknown origin

Recently, information about many types of fake drugs and drugs of unknown origin being requested by authorities to be recalled and handled has attracted special public attention.

Medical staff prepare prescription drugs for patients at a medical facility in the province. Photo: H. Dung

Medicine is a special product used to treat diseases. If you use fake medicine, not only will you lose the chance to treat the disease, but it can also cause other harmful effects to the user's health.

The Department of Health continuously warns about fake drugs.

Recently, the Dong Nai Department of Health has sent notices to relevant units about many types of fake drugs of unknown origin. According to information from the Drug Administration Department ( Ministry of Health ), these drug samples do not have information on the circulation registration number, import license number, information on the drug manufacturing facility, and drug importing facility.

The drugs include: Diamicron® MR 60mg (Gliklazid), batch number 23F603, expiry date 4-2026; Oseltamivir, batch number M1164B01, manufacturing date 3-2021, expiry date 3-2023; Crestor 20mg (Rosuvastatin), batch number A23237030, expiry date 4-2026; Janumet 50/1000mg (Sitagliptin/Metformin), batch number 24497505A, expiry date 7-2026; Plavix (Klopidogrel), batch number ELB04027, expiry date 5-2027; Nexium® 40mg Enterik Kapli Pellet Tablet (Esomeprazole), batch number 23H420, expiry date 9-2027; Crestor 10mg (Rosuvastatin) medicine, lot number A24236004, expiry date 7-2027.

In addition, the Department of Health also requested relevant units to inspect, handle, and trace the origin of the fake drug Theophylline Extended - Release Tablets 200mg, batch number 21127, production date 26-2-2022, expiration date 26-2-2026; place of manufacture Pharmacy Laboratories Plus. This drug sample does not have information about the circulation registration number or import license, or the importing facility on the label.

The Department of Health requests that drug trading and using establishments in the province do not buy, sell or use product batches that do not have information on the registration number or import license number, manufacturing facility or import facility as mentioned above. Health departments are requested to coordinate with the police, market management agencies, Steering Committee 389 and relevant authorities to inspect drug trading establishments in the area; investigate, verify information and trace the origin of the above product batches; handle organizations and individuals who violate according to current regulations.

In response to the above information, posing as a citizen who needed to buy Nexium ® 40mg, the reporter went to several pharmacies in Tan Phong Ward (Bien Hoa City) that previously sold this drug to inquire about purchasing it. However, staff at several pharmacies said that after the announcement of the fake Nexium drug, these pharmacies stopped importing Nexium for sale and advised the reporter to use another drug with similar effects.

According to statistics from the Department of Health, the province currently has 8 drug manufacturing companies; 42 drug wholesalers; 270 retail establishments selling herbal medicines and traditional medicines; 1,300 pharmacies and 2,400 drugstores.

How to distinguish fake drugs from real drugs?

Faced with the current situation of fake drugs and drugs of unknown origin being sold widely on the market, the Drug Administration has issued specific instructions to help people distinguish between real and fake drugs.

Deputy Director of the Drug Administration, Dr. Ta Manh Hung emphasized that people should absolutely not buy medicine through social networks, personal pages with unknown identities or through live streams, because these are channels with a very high risk of spreading fake medicine. People should only order medicine through e-commerce platforms, websites, and applications that have been licensed by the Ministry of Health, have online ordering functions and are strictly managed.

When buying medicine at pharmacies, people need to be smart and choose establishments with business licenses, clear addresses, and reputation. Only buy medicine when the medicine packaging is intact, not torn, not blurred, and has no signs of modification. People should check important information such as: medicine name, batch number, production date, expiry date, circulation registration number, manufacturer name, and compare the packaging with the image of the genuine sample.

In addition, people can scan the barcode or QR code to see if the information matches the drug label. Some counterfeit drugs are often cheaper than real drugs, people need to pay close attention.

Regarding this issue, Deputy Director of the Department of Health Nguyen Van Binh recommends that when buying medicine, people can ask the pharmacy to issue an invoice and keep that invoice to trace the origin if there is a problem with the medicine. If people suspect fake medicine or discover the act of trading fake medicine, they should immediately report it to the authorities such as the Department of Health, health department, and local police.

“People should also stop the habit of going to pharmacies and drugstores to buy medicine when they are sick. If they see any unusual signs in their body, they should go to a medical facility to be examined by a doctor and prescribed appropriate medicine,” said Dr. Binh.

To look up drug registration information on the Drug Administration's system, consumers can access the website: https://dichvucong.dav.gov.vn/congbothuoc/index. Then, enter the drug name or registration number. Next, compare the information with the approved product packaging and label.

Hanh Dung

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/y-te/202506/canh-giac-voi-thuoc-gia-thuoc-khong-ro-nguon-goc-c650ea1/