Media Releases
International Internet Day of Action against Counterfeit Medicines
13 November 2008
New Zealand's drug regulatory arm, Medsafe, is participating in the International Internet Day of Action, aimed at raising awareness around the risks of self-diagnosis and subsequent buying of medicines over the Internet.
In the past six months Medsafe has seized 57 consignments of counterfeit versions of the erectile dysfunction medicines Viagra or Cialis at New Zealand borders. The products had been imported for personal use, and in nearly all cases the consumers who had purchased these medicines over the internet would have been unaware they had purchased a counterfeited medicine.
Viagra and Cialis are prescription medicines that can be obtained through New Zealand pharmacies and are readily available on prescription from a New Zealand-registered doctor.
"Medsafe recommends consumers avoid purchasing medicines over the internet. The practice of self prescribing and purchasing medicines in this way carries significant health risks," said Derek Fitzgerald, Medsafe's Manager Compliance.
"International investigations have revealed that these products are often of poor quality and made in unhygienic circumstances. In addition, testing of internet purchased counterfeit products has found they may contain anything from little or no active ingredient through to excessive quantities. In some circumstances, counterfeit products have also been found to contain other undeclared ingredients, such as medicines, that may be dangerous."
The sale of counterfeit medicines affects all countries and use of counterfeit medicines has led to a large number of deaths across the globe.
Background material
In June 2008 New Zealand became the 17th permanent member country within the Permanent Forum on International Pharmaceutical Crime (PFIPC).
This forum is endorsed by INTERPOL and operates the International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT), an initiative jointly operated by the World Health Organisation.
Medsafe, the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, represents the Ministry of Health on this important international forum.
The aim of the forum is to co-ordinate networks across and between countries in order to halt the production, trade and sale of counterfeit medicines and medical devices around the world.
12 November 2008 sees the first International Internet Day of Action undertaken by participating PFIPC countries.
The aim of this operation is to demonstrate there is an international will to address the problems associated with counterfeit medicines and to heighten the awareness of the risks associated with using medicines purchased over the internet.
New Zealand joins Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the USA as part of an international team of regulators committed to heightening awareness and endeavouring to prevent this growing global phenomenon.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Michael Flyger, Media Advisor: 04 496 2265, 0274 346 878