The proliferation of counterfeit medicines has health, economic, and medication safety implications.

The Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs (Republic Act No. 8203) cover those that are counterfeit or fake medicine manufactured with harmful ingredients, contains correct ingredients but wrong amount of dose, or those without active ingredients. They can also be mislabeled and apply for both generic drugs and branded drugs.

Counterfeit or fake drugs are not registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It did not go through validation and quality standard of the procedure given by the FDA to meet the efficacy, safety, and quality of the drug.

In the Philippines, reported products that are frequently counterfeited are paracetamol, mefenamic acid, ibuprofen, and other cold and cough remedies. Thus, it is vital that you buy your medicines from your trusted FDA-registered drugstores.

So, this National Consciousness Week Against Counterfeit Medicine, know how to identify counterfeit medicine.

Together, let’s spread proper knowledge and awareness on the use of counterfeit medicine and be one with the fight against it.

To know more about it, visit www.fda.gov.ph