INCB warns of counterfeit medicines in markets

New Delhi, Mar 4: The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has said a flood of counterfeit medicines now available in many countries could have fatal consequences for consumers.

In its annual report released in Vienna, copy of which was made available here, it called on member states to enforce legislation to ensure that narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were not illegally manufactured or diverted from licit manufacturers and distribution channels to unregulated markets.

The danger of unregulated markets was the theme of chapter one of the report. The board was calling for it to be addressed on a priority basis. The existence of unregulated markets meant that substandard, and sometimes even lethal medication was sold to the unsuspecting consumer, it said.

Unregulated markets were often supplied with stolen and diverted drugs, illicitly manufactured pharmaceuticals or through illegal sales on the internet and distributed through the mail and courier services, it added.

Apart from consumers who purchased pharmaceuticals containing controlled substances on the unregulated market because of limited access to health care facilities or lower prices, persons dependent on and abusing such medications make use of unregulated markets to obtain them without prescription, the report said.

''Besides the fact that the existence of unregulated markets, the sale of diverted and counterfeit drugs and the purchase of drugs containing controlled substances without prescription contravenes international treaties on drug control, it is important for consumers to realise that what they think is a cut-price medication bought on an unregulated market may however have potentially lethal effects whenever the consumed drugs are not the genuine product or are taken without medical advice. Instead of healing, they can take lives,'' INCB President Philip Emafo said.

This danger was real and sizeable. The World Health Organisation estimated that 25-50 per cent of medicines consumed in developing countries were believed to be counterfeit. The problem was further compounded by the fact that counterfeit drugs were easy to manufacture, they could resemble genuine drugs in packaging, and labelling, the report said.

Unknowing clients had experienced serious health or even lethal consequences; for instance, in Africa, the use of counterfeit vaccines in 1995 resulted in 2,500 deaths, it said.

Narcotics, benzodiazepines, amphetamines and other internationally controlled drugs were easily available in streetmarkets in several developing countries. In developed countries, these drugs were sold via illegal internet pharmacies, without the mandatory prescriptions, it added.

''The problem of counterfeit medication and abuse of Pharmaceuticals containing controlled substances bought without prescriptions, has been in existence for some time. However, the rapid expansion of unregulated markets has dramatically worsened the situation,'' Dr Emafo said.

The unregulated market broadly covered two scenarios: unlicensed individuals and/or entities conducting illegal trade of pharmaceutical products containing controlled substances, for instance, a street vendor selling a controlled drug, such as a narcotic drug, a stimulant or a sedative in a village fair; and, licensed individuals and/or entities contravening laws to sell controlled drugs, such as a pharmacist who sold controlled drugs without asking for a prescription.

The board called on member states to enforce existing legislation, to impede this menace, and also take appropriate measures to increase the availability of medicinal drugs through legitimate channels, particularly in areas where there was lack of access.

UNI