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Counterfeit medicines are a serious issue facing patients, health
professionals and the pharmaceutical industry. They are made by
someone other than the original manufacturer and whilst some counterfeit
medicines may have the correct active ingredient, some are dangerous
as they may:
• be contaminated
• include too much or too little of the active ingredient
• contain no active ingredient
• undermine the patients confidence in taking medicines
• have been made in extremely unsanitary conditions
• contain harmful or poisonous ingredients.
Global
The threat of counterfeit medicines has been recognised by the World
Health Organisation (WHO) as a growing international problem. It
is estimated that 8-10% of the global medicines supply chain is
counterfeit, with this number increasing to 25% in some countries.
In common with other pharmaceutical companies, Merck Sharp &
Dohme Limited (MSD) is working with government agencies to control
this problem.
UK
 Evidence suggests that
counterfeit medicines in the UK are on the increase. However, despite
some media reports, the risk of counterfeit medicines in reputable
UK pharmacies is extremely low indeed. Most incidences of counterfeit
medicine in the UK derive from illegitimate, Internet pharmacy supply
of ‘lifestyle’ medicines such as drugs for erectile
dysfunction, weight loss and hair retention.
MSD is aware that products claiming to be PROPECIA are advertised
on some Internet sites (hosted on servers outside the UK) as available
to buy without a prescription.
In the UK, PROPECIA is a Prescription-Only Medicine that should
only be taken after a patient has obtained a prescription following
consultation with a healthcare professional. It is illegal to supply
prescription-only medicines in the UK without a prescription signed
by a healthcare professional. Accordingly, MSD strongly recommends
patients should only fulfil prescriptions from a community pharmacy
or an accredited UK online pharmacy. Patients are placing themselves
potentially at risk if they take prescription-only medicines without
first having consulted a healthcare professional or if they choose
to buy such medicines from unlicensed Internet sites.
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