Media Reports on Medicines Quality - US Pharmacopeial Convention

Korea (South
Korea)
Sexual enhancers,
psychotropics
Erectile
dysfunction
medicines (Viagra
and Cialis)
A Jordanian doctor has been referred to court for selling
smuggled and counterfeit medicine and dispensing psychotropic
drugs without a prescription.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police arrested 15 pharmacists for
importing fake versions of Viagra from China.
“More than a dozen” pharmacists were indicted for distributing
fake erectile dysfunction medicines.
Laos Ampicillin Out of 194 medicine samples tested in December 2008, 1
sample of ampicillin failed laboratory testing. The sample did
not contain the correct API.
Lebanon Plavix The Health Minister announced that 9 pharmacies and 4 medical
warehouses will be closed for trading in counterfeit medicines.
Fake Plavix, used to treat heart disease, was manufactured in
China and smuggled into Lebanon and other countries in the
region. Following laboratory analysis in France and Lebanon,
the fakes were found to have only 40% of the therapeutic value
of real Plavix.
The Customs Department discovered an illegal factory and
“large quantities” of fake medicines were confiscated. Customs
issued a statement alleging that the factory’s owner was
producing counterfeit medicines and raw materials in a
residential apartment before storing them in a warehouse.
Official papers and the Health Minister’s signature were
allegedly forged to get more than 100 formulas of medications
into the market. The Health Ministry has withdrawn those
medications.
Malaysia During the first five months of 2008, law enforcement officials
seized RM 55,000 (USD $17,000) worth of unregistered
pharmaceuticals during 14 raids. Sexual stimulants made up 3-
Malkawi, K. Doctor referred to court for selling
smuggled, counterfeit medicine. The Jordan
Times. Apr 30, 2012. Available at:
www.jordantimes.com Accessed May 1, 2012
Ray, S. Korean police arrest Viagra
counterfeiters. Atlantic Drugs. Dec 13, 2010.
Available at: www.atlanticdrugs.com Accessed
Dec 14, 2010
Pharmacists charged with selling fake Viagra.
The Korea Herald. Mar 22, 2011. Available at:
www.koreaherald.com Accessed Mar 29, 2011
Medicine quality monitoring program in the
Mekong region (2009). U.S. Pharmacopeia Drug
Quality and Information (USP DQI) Program.
Khalife announces closure of 9 pharmacies, 4
warehouses over counterfeit drugs trading.
Naharnet. Jan 22, 2010. Available at
www.naharnet.com Accessed Jan 22, 2010
Rizk, C. Lebanese authorities seize counterfeit
drugs factory. The Daily Star. Feb 25, 2010.
Available at: www.dailystar.com.lb Accessed Feb
25, 2010
Two ministers caught in scandal of counterfeit
drugs. The Daily Star. Nov 10, 2012. Available
at: www.dailystar.com.lb Accessed Nov 12, 2012
Lim, B and Babulal, V. Sex stimulants top
counterfeit drugs seized. NSTonline. May 14,
2008. Available at: www.nst.com.my Accessed:
© 2003-2012 The United States Pharmacopeial Convention Inc. All rights reserved 44