Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
2010-03-26 China Times
Lv Suli, Lin Hesheng, Zhang Chaoxin, Zhou Xiaoting, Qiu Peifen / Reports
The Executive Yuan has declared war on channels selling counterfeit and substandard drugs. Many underground radio stations expressed indifference, stating that even if the drugs they sell lack advertising approval or are deemed counterfeit or substandard, their stations operate without licenses anyway, so they have no fear of revocation. Some underground radio operators also denied selling "counterfeit drugs," with a Kaohsiung-based operator claiming their products are manufactured by GMP-certified pharmaceutical factories.
Yesterday, the Department of Health presented a report on "Measures to Combat Illegal Drugs" at the Executive Yuan meeting. Premier Wu Den-yih pointed out that counterfeit and substandard drugs are sold through underground radio stations, the internet, direct sales, street stalls, night markets, tour buses, adult shops, and pharmacies, with some even promoted and sold through legitimate media outlets.
### Counterfeit Drugs Harm Health: NT$30 Billion Spent Annually on Dialysis
Wu Den-yih stated that unscrupulous vendors profiting from counterfeit and substandard drugs severely harm consumer health and increase the burden on national health insurance. According to the Department of Health, Taiwan’s health insurance spends over NT$30 billion annually on dialysis, earning the island the stigma of being a "dialysis island," largely due to the damage caused by counterfeit and substandard drugs.
To strengthen the crackdown on counterfeit drugs, Wu Den-yih directed the immediate establishment of a "Joint Task Force to Combat Counterfeit Drugs," involving the Department of Health, the Ministry of Justice, the National Communications Commission, and law enforcement agencies to intensify inspections of these sales channels.
Operators argued that the government’s frequent crackdowns on underground radio stations mislead the public into thinking all drugs sold there are counterfeit. They urged authorities to target actual counterfeit drug manufacturers rather than assuming drugs sold on underground stations are fake.
### Underground Radio Stations Retort: Target Illegal Drug Manufacturers
Legitimate radio stations, however, applauded the move. Yang Wenli, station manager of Kaohsiung’s Master Radio, said, "The government should have cracked down on underground radio stations long ago!" He criticized underground stations for rampant drug sales, unrestricted broadcasting, and unfair competition against licensed stations.
Kang Qijie, Director of the Pingtung County Health Bureau, noted that many elderly people spend their time listening to these stations and use their pensions to buy drugs. Not only does this waste money, but the unverified drugs may also harm their health.
A vendor surnamed Wang, who has sold drugs from his truck for over 20 years, dismissed the criticism, claiming his products are based on ancestral recipes. He said customers would even scold him if he told them not to take the drugs. If the government cracks down, he added, regular customers already know how to contact him—business would just go further underground.
### Two Truckloads of Counterfeit Drugs Seized in Yunlin’s Beigang in February
In February, authorities in Beigang, Yunlin County, seized two truckloads of counterfeit drugs linked to underground radio sales. Investigators noted that underground stations are the primary sales channel, followed by markets like Beigang’s cattle market, where elderly rural residents are prime targets for drug peddlers. Wu Zhaojun, Director of the Yunlin County Health Bureau, said over 20 cases of counterfeit drug evidence have been handed to prosecutors this year. Police confirmed they monitor underground stations and conduct regular inspections at markets and night markets.
Huang Tianru, Xiao Chengxun, Chen Zhixian / Taipei Report
Kang Zhaozhou, Director of the Food and Drug Administration under the Department of Health, stated yesterday that past crackdowns often involved agencies working in isolation. For example, health authorities might uncover a suspected counterfeit drug factory but need judicial support for prosecution—by the time investigators arrive, the operators have fled. Similarly, the Ministry of Justice may seize suspicious pills but lack the means to identify them as counterfeit or banned. The joint task force aims to streamline enforcement and prosecution.The National Police Agency stated that a special task force has been established to intensify the crackdown on illegal radio stations and online drug sales. Local police departments have formed dedicated field teams to cooperate with health authorities in tracking down counterfeit drug factories, aiming to cut off market supply chains from the source. However, the operation is challenging as illegal radio stations are often hidden in remote mountainous areas.
Kang Chao-chou emphasized that Premier Wu has also directed the Department of Health to increase fines by at least three to five times within three months. Additionally, amendments to relevant laws will be submitted to the Executive Yuan, requiring violators of illegal advertisements to issue corrective "counter-advertisements" in the same format and time slot to rectify misinformation, in order to expedite legal reforms.
Source: http:/ / life. chinatimes. com/ 2……0302+112010032600070,00. html
Crackdown on Fake Drugs: Underground Radio Unfazed
Lv Suli, Lin Hesheng, Zhang Chaoxin, Zhou Xiaoting, Qiu Peifen / Reports
The Executive Yuan has declared war on channels selling counterfeit and substandard drugs. Many underground radio stations expressed indifference, stating that even if the drugs they sell lack advertising approval or are deemed counterfeit or substandard, their stations operate without licenses anyway, so they have no fear of revocation. Some underground radio operators also denied selling "counterfeit drugs," with a Kaohsiung-based operator claiming their products are manufactured by GMP-certified pharmaceutical factories.
Yesterday, the Department of Health presented a report on "Measures to Combat Illegal Drugs" at the Executive Yuan meeting. Premier Wu Den-yih pointed out that counterfeit and substandard drugs are sold through underground radio stations, the internet, direct sales, street stalls, night markets, tour buses, adult shops, and pharmacies, with some even promoted and sold through legitimate media outlets.
### Counterfeit Drugs Harm Health: NT$30 Billion Spent Annually on Dialysis
Wu Den-yih stated that unscrupulous vendors profiting from counterfeit and substandard drugs severely harm consumer health and increase the burden on national health insurance. According to the Department of Health, Taiwan’s health insurance spends over NT$30 billion annually on dialysis, earning the island the stigma of being a "dialysis island," largely due to the damage caused by counterfeit and substandard drugs.
To strengthen the crackdown on counterfeit drugs, Wu Den-yih directed the immediate establishment of a "Joint Task Force to Combat Counterfeit Drugs," involving the Department of Health, the Ministry of Justice, the National Communications Commission, and law enforcement agencies to intensify inspections of these sales channels.
Operators argued that the government’s frequent crackdowns on underground radio stations mislead the public into thinking all drugs sold there are counterfeit. They urged authorities to target actual counterfeit drug manufacturers rather than assuming drugs sold on underground stations are fake.
### Underground Radio Stations Retort: Target Illegal Drug Manufacturers
Legitimate radio stations, however, applauded the move. Yang Wenli, station manager of Kaohsiung’s Master Radio, said, "The government should have cracked down on underground radio stations long ago!" He criticized underground stations for rampant drug sales, unrestricted broadcasting, and unfair competition against licensed stations.
Kang Qijie, Director of the Pingtung County Health Bureau, noted that many elderly people spend their time listening to these stations and use their pensions to buy drugs. Not only does this waste money, but the unverified drugs may also harm their health.
A vendor surnamed Wang, who has sold drugs from his truck for over 20 years, dismissed the criticism, claiming his products are based on ancestral recipes. He said customers would even scold him if he told them not to take the drugs. If the government cracks down, he added, regular customers already know how to contact him—business would just go further underground.
### Two Truckloads of Counterfeit Drugs Seized in Yunlin’s Beigang in February
In February, authorities in Beigang, Yunlin County, seized two truckloads of counterfeit drugs linked to underground radio sales. Investigators noted that underground stations are the primary sales channel, followed by markets like Beigang’s cattle market, where elderly rural residents are prime targets for drug peddlers. Wu Zhaojun, Director of the Yunlin County Health Bureau, said over 20 cases of counterfeit drug evidence have been handed to prosecutors this year. Police confirmed they monitor underground stations and conduct regular inspections at markets and night markets.
Huang Tianru, Xiao Chengxun, Chen Zhixian / Taipei Report
Kang Zhaozhou, Director of the Food and Drug Administration under the Department of Health, stated yesterday that past crackdowns often involved agencies working in isolation. For example, health authorities might uncover a suspected counterfeit drug factory but need judicial support for prosecution—by the time investigators arrive, the operators have fled. Similarly, the Ministry of Justice may seize suspicious pills but lack the means to identify them as counterfeit or banned. The joint task force aims to streamline enforcement and prosecution.The National Police Agency stated that a special task force has been established to intensify the crackdown on illegal radio stations and online drug sales. Local police departments have formed dedicated field teams to cooperate with health authorities in tracking down counterfeit drug factories, aiming to cut off market supply chains from the source. However, the operation is challenging as illegal radio stations are often hidden in remote mountainous areas.
Kang Chao-chou emphasized that Premier Wu has also directed the Department of Health to increase fines by at least three to five times within three months. Additionally, amendments to relevant laws will be submitted to the Executive Yuan, requiring violators of illegal advertisements to issue corrective "counter-advertisements" in the same format and time slot to rectify misinformation, in order to expedite legal reforms.
Source: http:/ / life. chinatimes. com/ 2……0302+112010032600070,00. html