EGP edges lower against USD in early Monday trade    Egypt delivers over 30 million health services through public hospitals in H1 2025    Egypt joins Geneva negotiations on Global Plastics Treaty, calls for urgent agreement    Madinet Masr in talks for three land plots in Riyadh as part of Saudi expansion    Egypt's PM tells Palestinian PM that Rafah crossing is working 24/7 for aid    Egypt, Japan discuss economic ties, preparations for TICAD conference    Real Estate Developers urge flexible land pricing, streamlined licensing, and dollar-based transactions    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Egypt's Supreme Energy Council reviews power supply plans for 14 industrial projects    Jordan condemns Israeli PM remarks on 'Greater Israel'    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Smuggling medicines in Egypt raises alarm
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 23 - 06 - 2010

Counterfeit medicines can be more dangerous than narcotics. Counterfeit medicines have become a problem, not only in Egypt but also in many other countries, because the pharmaceutical trade is growing, as is the number of outlets selling medicines.
“Raising public awareness of the dangers of medicines advertised on satellite channels is vital,” says Dr Madiha A. Ibrahim, head of the Pharmaceutical Inspection Department in the Ministry of Health.
According to Dr Madiha, there are many ways of cheating. For example, some counterfeit medicines don't contain enough of the necessary active ingredient or even none at all. Sometimes, they may also contain toxic substances.
Of course, the bona fide pharmaceutical companies are losing out because the counterfeit medicines sometimes carry their brand names.
“Antibiotics account for 29 per cent of counterfeit medicines, while corticosteroids [a class of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex] and dermatological products account for 7.5 per cent and drugs for respiratory complaints 5.5 per cent,” Dr Mediha noted at a round table meeting organised in Cairo last Sunday by a famous pharmaceutical company.
The meeting, attended by officials from the ministries of health, finance and interior, promoted the company's initiative to protect patients by fighting counterfeit medicine in the local market.
But how can the man in the street tell whether his medicine is counterfeit or the real McCoy?
Dr Ibrahim advises patients to carefully examine the colour and shape of the tablet and also the wrapping, as well as checking whether the drug has the usual, required effect.
If the patient is not satisfied, he should go to a pharmacist or doctor for further verification; otherwise he should contact the Inspection Department, Ministry of Health.
Last year, Minister of Health Dr Hatem el-Gabali issued Ministerial Decree 25/2009, which regulates the production of pharmaceuticals in the factories and their sale at the pharmacies.
He also issued Decree 304/2009 for the formation of a committee comprising officials from the ministries of Finance, Health and Interior to come up with a strategy to deal with the problem of counterfeited medicines.
Meanwhile, officials in the Ministry of Health are currently preparing amendments to certain articles to the Law on Pharmacological Affairs, (127/1955), which will be presented to the People's Assembly (Lower House of the Egyptian Parliament) for discussion.
The aim of the amendments is to toughen the penalties for counterfeit medicines. While the amendments await approval, the two above-mentioned ministerial decrees are being used to control the problem, stressed Dr Madiha.
Hassanein Shabana, Manager of the Central Department for Combating Smuggling at the Ministry of Finance, said that, in 2009, they succeeded in dealing with 49 cases of smuggled medicines. So far this year, the number has reached 26 cases.
He added that the department recently seized eight containers full of counterfeit Tramadol (an analgesic used for treating moderate to moderately severe pain), smuggled in from neighbouring countries, but they were unable to trace the person responsible.
The Ministry of Health has been running a press and TV campaign to highlight the dangers of counterfeit drugs, while it also has a website: www.eda.mohp.gov.eg.
In co-operation with the Cairo Consumer Protection Association, it has also been urging pharmacological institutions to strictly adhere to health regulations, especially regarding the safe disposal of waste, ensuring that it doesn't get recycled.
He mentioned that, before a new drug hits the market, the manufacturer should consult the Inspection Department, Ministry of Health, while importers of medicines need to get a certificate from the Ministry, vouching for their quality.
Any importer who doesn't get this certificate is struck off the Ministry of Health's list of importers, giving the Inspection Department the right to destroy the imported medicines.
“Anyone caught dealing in counterfeit medicines will be arrested and sent to trial,” said Mamdouh Hassan, an official in the Home Supply Department, Ministry of Interior, who is all in favour of the proposed amendments to Law 127/1955.
“We recently received a report about a satellite channel advertising unlicensed drugs. The channel was very coy about giving the address or landline telephone number of the company. But we eventually traced the company to Boulaq el-Dakrour [a poor area near Mohandiseen].
“In co-ordination with Inspection Department, we raided the company's plant and confiscated large quantities of counterfeit drugs. I personally think the penalties for the manufacturers of these drugs should be far tougher,” Hassan stressed.


Clic here to read the story from its source.