Pharmacists Fight Against Counterfeit Drugs
Earlier this month, the Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) released the L.E.A.D.E.R.’s Guide for Pharmacists to encourage pharmacists to take an active role in protecting the supply chain from counterfeit drugs. This effort is one of many to help curb the distribution of harmful and potentially deadly counterfeit drugs. Similarly, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Dispensing Doctor’s Association (DDA) issued Counterfeit medicines: Guidance for pharmacists, explaining the background of counterfeit drugs, their production and distribution to pharmacists.
Earlier this month, the Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) released the L.E.A.D.E.R.’s Guide for Pharmacists to encourage pharmacists to take an active role in protecting the supply chain from counterfeit drugs. This effort is one of many to help curb the distribution of harmful and potentially deadly counterfeit drugs. Similarly, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Dispensing Doctor’s Association (DDA) issued Counterfeit medicines: Guidance for pharmacists, explaining the background of counterfeit drugs, their production and distribution to pharmacists.
In addition to this excellent resource, the RPSGB and MHRA will be delivering educational materials to pharmacists about the risk consumers’ face when buying medicines online. The postcard-sized leaflet advises patients on how to avoid purchasing counterfeit drugs and what to do if they have been sold a counterfeit drug. The pamphlet will be distributed by pharmacists in prescription bags of those patients who are purchasing medications that have previously been counterfeited in the United Kingdom, including lifestyle, weight loss and recalled products.
Efforts like these display the international scope of counterfeit drugs and the PSM applauds efforts, such as the RPSGB and MHRA leaflet, to combat this threat. For more information on contraband or counterfeit drugs, visit www.safemedicines.org.