RPSGB/MHRA move to raise awareness of counterfeit medicines

Counterfeit medicine is posing an increasing risk to the public's health, as the amount being sold on-line and through other sources grows  internationally, according to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great  Britain and the UK's Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). In an  effort to raise public awareness of fake medicine and its dangers, the  RPSGB and MHRA have teamed up to produce new patient guidance, which  will be issued to all pharmacies in Great Britain over the next two  months.

Developed in conjunction with patient groups to ensure it is clear and  easy to read, pharmacies will be asked to distribute the guidance to  patients in their prescription bags. The new double-sided,  postcard-sized leaflet offers practical advice to people about what  counterfeit medicine means, how to minimize purchasing fakes and what to  do if they suspect they have been sold or supplied such products. One  side of the postcard explains the safest way to purchase medicines and  the other outlines "the dangers of faking it."

The RPSGB's head of practice, Heidi Wright, says: "counterfeit medicine  does not work and can make you seriously ill. It's important that people  are aware that they should always get their medicine from a reputable  source such as a pharmacist or a registered on-line pharmacy site which  has the RPSGB's Internet Pharmacy Logo - and I hope these postcards will  help to achieve that."