The rise of fake medicines is a growing global concern, putting millions of lives at risk and undermining the credibility of healthcare systems. Counterfeit drugs often contain the wrong ingredients or lack active substances entirely, leading to serious health consequences. Knowing how to identify counterfeit medicines is crucial for patient safety. Fortunately, advancements in medicine authentication technology now make it easier to detect fakes before they cause harm. Tools like Scan Plus offer secure pharma serialization and robust anti-counterfeit measures, empowering manufacturers and consumers alike. This guide will walk you through practical steps to recognize and avoid fake medicines.
Understanding the Scope of the Problem
Counterfeit medicines are fraudulent drugs that may contain incorrect or harmful ingredients or lack active ingredients altogether. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 1 in 10 medical products in low- and middle-income countries are either substandard or falsified. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that counterfeit medicines may contain the wrong ingredients, incorrect dosages, or harmful substances.
Signs of Counterfeit Medicines
While laboratory testing is the definitive method to confirm a medicine's authenticity, consumers can look for certain indicators:
- Packaging Irregularities: Spelling errors, poor print quality, or missing information on labels.
- Physical Appearance: Differences in colour, size, or shape compared to previous purchases.
- Unexpected Side Effects: Experiencing unusual reactions or a lack of expected therapeutic effects.
- Price Discrepancies: Significantly lower prices than usual may indicate counterfeit products.
- Unusual Purchase Channels: Buying from unverified online sources or unfamiliar vendors.
It's important to note that counterfeit medicines can closely mimic genuine products, making them difficult to detect without proper verification.
The Role of Serialisation in Combating Counterfeits
Serialisation involves assigning a unique identifier to each medicine package, enabling tracking throughout the supply chain. This process enhances transparency and helps prevent counterfeit products from reaching consumers. Pharmacies and distributors can scan these identifiers to verify authenticity before dispensing medications.
Introducing Scan Plus: Enhancing Medicine Authenticity
Scan Plus is a comprehensive solution designed to strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain against counterfeit medicines. Key features include:
- Secure Pharma Serialisation: Manages and verifies unique serial numbers for each product, ensuring full traceability throughout the supply chain.
- Anti-Counterfeit Measures: Implements robust protocols to detect and prevent counterfeit entries.
- Global Regulatory Compliance: Aligns with international standards, including EU and US regulations.
Benefits for Manufacturers and CMOs:
- Streamlines operations with efficient serial number management.
- Facilitates seamless collaboration between Marketing Authorization Holders (MAHs) and Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs).
- Provides comprehensive reporting and secure audit trails.
By integrating Scan Plus into their operations, pharmaceutical entities can significantly reduce the risk of counterfeit medicines infiltrating the supply chain.
Conclusion
Counterfeit medicines pose a significant threat to public health. By staying informed, vigilant, and utilizing tools such as Scan Plus, consumers and industry stakeholders can work together to ensure the safety and authenticity of medications.
