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.
