Narcotics dealers shifting to fake medicines — WHO

From illegal drugs to fake medicines.

With counterfeit drugs becoming a flourishing trade, the World Health Organization (WHO) disclosed that even narcotics dealers are shifting to fake medicines.

"To give you some idea of the magnitude of the problem, the global value of this evil trade is now estimated at, believe it or not, $35 billion. It is perhaps no surprise that even narcotics dealers are said to be tempted by this kind of money and are switching to counterfeit medicines," Dr. Shigeru Omi, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, said in a press briefing last Friday.

WHO has launched the Internet-based Rapid Alert System (RAS) that will track down the activities of drug cheaters in the region.

The public can log on to the RAS and relay information about counterfeit medicines. WHO experts will then verify the report and transmit it to concerned government agencies.

But in areas with no Internet access, anyone with information can simply call or fax the WHO office.

"This is the first attempt on the part of WHO and, of course, this will not solve the problem overnight. We all know that this is the beginning of our fight against counterfeit (drugs). If this is successful, I’m sure other regions will learn from us and it will eventually be a global network," Omi said.

"When we take medicines, we trust that (they) will help make us well again. Increasingly though, that is not always the case. For many people in Asia, the medicines (they) take can make (them) even more ill. In some cases, the result can be death," he added.

WHO warned that those taking fake medicines are in danger of developing drug resistance.

"So, we can see we are dealing with a very dangerous situation, and it is getting worse. It spans the world and affects both rich and poor countries. But, mainly, it is the developing countries that suffer. Unlike in the West, most do not have the financial means or infrastructure to detect and respond to counterfeit medicines," Omi said.

He admitted that much still has to be done to stop counterfeiting as those behind the illegal trade have become bolder in their operations.

"We don’t know yet (who are producing counterfeit medicines). What we know for certain is that somebody who is really committing this very serious crime has organized the system very well. They are powerful and everywhere. That much we know," he said.

WHO advised the public not to cater to cheap medicines and buy medicines only from licensed drug outlets.

To curb counterfeiting, Omi said public awareness of fake medicines must be raised, while the government, police and legislators must be committed to the campaign against them.

He said quality and affordable medicines should also be made available to everyone so they would not turn to counterfeit drugs.