Are falsified medicines a significant problem?
In a 2012 report the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that in the period between 2004 and 2011 ten batches of falsified medicines had been recalled in the UK.
Within the UK fake Valium® (diazepam) has resulted in fatalities in Scotland, there have been multiple reports of fake Viagra® (sildenafil) along with batches of fake Lipitor (atorvastatin) that entered the supply chain.
In October 2018 the MHRA seized more than £2million of fake medicines as part of the international Operation Pangea. Falsified and unlicensed medicines and medical devices including diazepam, modafinil and dermal fillers were seized as part of the operation. Globally Operation Pangea led to 859 arrests and the seizure of products valued in the region of £10.9 million.
The EU have advised that the “production and trade of falsified medicines has become a growing worldwide illegal business” and that the problem is now not restricted to “lifestyle” medicines as it affects “innovative and life-saving medicines” e.g. cardiovascular medicines.
The ability of falsified medicines to enter the EU and UK supply chains shows that the sale of falsified medicines is no longer limited to illegal trading channels, such as illegal online sales.
It is widely recognised that these medicines pose a significant risk to patients when they enter the EU and UK supply chains.
