Initiative against counterfeit medications announced

AORN Journal,  Oct, 2003  

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A new US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiative is designed to identify risks associated with using counterfeit medications; coordinate public and private efforts to fight medication counterfeiting and distribution; and develop tools to aid in identifying, deterring, and combating counterfeiting, according to a July 16, 2003, news release from the FDA. The initiative will include the creation of an internal task force that will

* develop a strategic action plan to decrease the risk of counterfeit medications entering the US marketplace;

* strengthen the FDA's collaborative relationships with other federal agencies, health professionals, members of industry, and consumers to determine best practices for dealing with medication counterfeiting;

* identify mechanisms for strengthening the nation's protections against counterfeiting, and

* assess the extent to which new technologies can help ensure the authenticity of medications.

Although medication counterfeiting is relatively rare in the United States, the FDA has seen a recent increase in counterfeiting activities and more sophisticated methods of introducing counterfeit medications into legitimate medication distribution channels. The FDA believes this increase has occurred because of

* improved counterfeiting technology,

* better organized criminal groups seeking financial opportunities,

* the online sale of prescription medications by unlicensed pharmacies,

* opportunities to introduce foreign-made counterfeit medications into rapidly growing import flows, and

* weak spots in the domestic wholesale medication distribution chain.

Many counterfeit medications are not distinguishable from authentic medications. Consumers can protect themselves by purchasing their medications from licensed, domestic pharmacies and contacting their pharmacist or physician if they notice anything unusual about their medication, including packaging, taste, or unfamiliar side effects.

FDA Announces Initiative to Heighten Battle Against Counterfeit Drugs (news release, Rockville, Md: US Food and Drug Administration, July 16, 2003) http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00926.html (accessed 1 Aug 2003).

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