Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Counterfeit drugs have become an alarming menace in Canada, posing a significant threat to public health and safety. Counterfeit pharmaceuticals are designed to mimic legitimate products. With their deceptive packaging and often substandard ingredients, these illicit drugs not only jeopardize the well-being of unsuspecting consumers but also undermine the integrity of the healthcare system. On World Patient Safety Day, we are shedding light on the dangers of counterfeit drugs and explore the urgent need for robust measures to combat this pervasive problem.

Counterfeit or fake medications, and the fake online pharmacies that sell them, are expanding in number, jeopardizing the guardrails that ensure patients can safely access prescription medicine, and are protected from unprescribed controlled substances and counterfeit drugs, posing a dramatic risk to the drug supply chain and the health of the patient. Today, there are roughly 35,000 active online pharmacies and 95% of them operate illegally. 74% of such websites source medications from outside of Canada.

The Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI), a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to protecting public health and sharing information on counterfeit pharmaceuticals, documented a 23% rise in new counterfeiting incidents in 2023. In 2024, during a single operation in Canada, the RCMP confiscated more than 1 million counterfeit pills. Counterfeit medicines often lack key ingredients and dosages, or contain added, harmful ingredients, including in some cases life-threatening fentanyl. As a result, patients who unknowingly take fake medicines, including those posing as life-saving treatments for cancer and heart disease, don’t get the therapeutic benefits of their medicines.

Fake medicines and the harm that these drugs have on our society will not go away on their own.
To address the counterfeit issue and increase public safety, we need to arm ourselves with awareness and as much information as possible to ensure that we and our loved ones receive authentic medicines.

Here are some quick tips you can use to keep you and your family safe:

• Before you fill your prescription through an online pharmacy, make sure you purchase your medicines from a legitimate site. Legitimate pharmacies require a valid prescription, have a licensed pharmacist and a physical address, even if it is an online retailer. Check the NAPRA guidance about online pharmacies.

• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to help guide your pharmacy selection.

• Visit Health Canada's website for additional resources to help ensure you receive the medicines you were prescribed and how to locate a licensed, legitimate pharmacy.

• Everyone should have access to the authentic medicines they need. If you can’t afford a medicine, talk to your health care provider to understand if an alternate medicine is available or if there is a program available that could help reduce the cost.

• Pets are also at risk of exposure to counterfeit medicines. The EPA has guidance on how to keep pets safe.

Share this information with friends and family. Anyone can unknowingly purchase counterfeit medicines, so take time to inform the people around you with the steps they can take to be sure their medicine is authentic, safe, and effective.