Clipping Board » Drug Poisoning ─ It is necessary to be aware of the toxic side effects before taking medication.
March 28, 2009 [Reporter Wei Yijia / Taipei Report]
How large is the domestic counterfeit drug market? Official statistics from the Department of Health indicate it amounts to over 90 million NTD. However, health officials also admit the actual counterfeit drug market is even larger. According to a survey by the Taiwan Action Against Illegal Drugs Alliance, pharmacists most frequently encounter counterfeit Viagra, while the public most commonly reports counterfeit weight-loss drug Reductil (sibutramine).
**Random Mixing of Toxic Substances Can Be Fatal**
Counterfeit drugs contain unknown ingredients and may haphazardly mix toxic substances. At best, they are ineffective; at worst, they can be deadly. To understand the current state of the domestic counterfeit drug market, the Taiwan Action Against Illegal Drugs Alliance recently distributed 501 questionnaires to pharmacists and 502 to the general public. Among these, 458 pharmacist responses and 476 public responses were collected, with a return rate exceeding 90%.
The survey found that 8% of pharmacists had encountered counterfeit drugs, with the top three being Viagra, glucosamine (for joint health), and Reductil. Meanwhile, 6% of the public reported encountering counterfeit drugs, with Reductil, glucosamine, and Seirogan (an anti-diarrheal) ranking as the top three.
**Alliance Criticizes Lax Enforcement**
Deng Xintang, chairman of the Taiwan Action Against Illegal Drugs Alliance, pointed out that the domestic counterfeit drug market is substantial. Under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, selling, dispensing, or transporting counterfeit drugs can result in up to seven years in prison and fines of up to 5 million NTD. However, the alliance found that in 2006, 54.25% of cases received deferred prosecution or were dismissed. From 2004 to 2007, 73% of counterfeit drug cases in Taiwan resulted in sentences of six months or less, indicating overly lenient enforcement.
**Health Department: Light Sentences Due to Non-Lethal Risks**
In response, Liao Jizhou, director of the Department of Health’s Pharmaceutical Affairs Division, stated that lighter sentences do not reflect lax enforcement. Instead, most counterfeit drugs, when tested, still contain the same active ingredients—albeit in lower concentrations—rendering them ineffective but not life-threatening, hence the lighter penalties.
Liao further noted that the counterfeit drug market detected by the Department of Health amounts to around 90 million NTD annually. Compared to the 200 billion NTD spent on health insurance drugs each year, counterfeit drugs account for only 0.04% of the market. However, the department acknowledges the actual figure is likely double that, or 0.08%. The Department of Health continues to collaborate with judicial authorities to crack down on counterfeit drugs and urges the public to avoid them by purchasing medications only from licensed pharmacies and steering clear of drugs of unknown origin to ensure medication safety.
Source: http:/ / www. libertytimes. com. ……/ new/ mar/ 28/ today- life11. htm
Viagra and Reductil Top Counterfeit Drug Market
How large is the domestic counterfeit drug market? Official statistics from the Department of Health indicate it amounts to over 90 million NTD. However, health officials also admit the actual counterfeit drug market is even larger. According to a survey by the Taiwan Action Against Illegal Drugs Alliance, pharmacists most frequently encounter counterfeit Viagra, while the public most commonly reports counterfeit weight-loss drug Reductil (sibutramine).
**Random Mixing of Toxic Substances Can Be Fatal**
Counterfeit drugs contain unknown ingredients and may haphazardly mix toxic substances. At best, they are ineffective; at worst, they can be deadly. To understand the current state of the domestic counterfeit drug market, the Taiwan Action Against Illegal Drugs Alliance recently distributed 501 questionnaires to pharmacists and 502 to the general public. Among these, 458 pharmacist responses and 476 public responses were collected, with a return rate exceeding 90%.
The survey found that 8% of pharmacists had encountered counterfeit drugs, with the top three being Viagra, glucosamine (for joint health), and Reductil. Meanwhile, 6% of the public reported encountering counterfeit drugs, with Reductil, glucosamine, and Seirogan (an anti-diarrheal) ranking as the top three.
**Alliance Criticizes Lax Enforcement**
Deng Xintang, chairman of the Taiwan Action Against Illegal Drugs Alliance, pointed out that the domestic counterfeit drug market is substantial. Under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, selling, dispensing, or transporting counterfeit drugs can result in up to seven years in prison and fines of up to 5 million NTD. However, the alliance found that in 2006, 54.25% of cases received deferred prosecution or were dismissed. From 2004 to 2007, 73% of counterfeit drug cases in Taiwan resulted in sentences of six months or less, indicating overly lenient enforcement.
**Health Department: Light Sentences Due to Non-Lethal Risks**
In response, Liao Jizhou, director of the Department of Health’s Pharmaceutical Affairs Division, stated that lighter sentences do not reflect lax enforcement. Instead, most counterfeit drugs, when tested, still contain the same active ingredients—albeit in lower concentrations—rendering them ineffective but not life-threatening, hence the lighter penalties.
Liao further noted that the counterfeit drug market detected by the Department of Health amounts to around 90 million NTD annually. Compared to the 200 billion NTD spent on health insurance drugs each year, counterfeit drugs account for only 0.04% of the market. However, the department acknowledges the actual figure is likely double that, or 0.08%. The Department of Health continues to collaborate with judicial authorities to crack down on counterfeit drugs and urges the public to avoid them by purchasing medications only from licensed pharmacies and steering clear of drugs of unknown origin to ensure medication safety.
Source: http:/ / www. libertytimes. com. ……/ new/ mar/ 28/ today- life11. htm