There is a LOT of fake drugs going about, be careful
Several such rings have been smashed in the UK, mixing up fake/inert or even toxic pills, fake packaging with serial numbers (so often involves obviosu insiders/corruption).
Unknown numbers of patients have been affected.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16760513
Fake drugs given to NHS patients still untraced
By Phil Kemp Reporter, 5 live Investigates
72,000 packs of counterfeit drugs entered the UK supply chain in 2007 - 25,000 remain untraced
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Only eight people out of several thousand who received counterfeit drugs from the NHS in an incident in 2007 have been identified.
Of those eight, only three have been informed about the incident, a BBC investigation has learned.
72,000 packs of counterfeit drugs entered the UK supply chain in 2007 but 25,000 remain untraced.
The regulator, the MHRA, has said it took swift action in 2007 and issued its "most serious recall notice".
A new EU directive will further improve patient safety, it added.
In the spring of 2007, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued an emergency recall of drugs which had been identified as counterfeit.
Those recalled included batches of the prostate cancer drug Casodex; of a drug used to treat heart complaints called Plavix; and of Zyprexa, which is used to control the symptoms of schizophrenia.
I don't know how well the FDA etc in USA can track/note such issues?
Utterly ASININE UK government policy of "
selling drugs if market price is high abroad, then buy back when cheap" is part of this and causing supply problems...stupid, greedy dumbasses
They call it "sound Capitlism/finacial management"....sigh.
Ok, Mr MP sh*t for brains, YOUR kids get that medicine, too, ya scrote-slapper!
"Patients" are not normal "consumers", life saving or improving drugs are not a "luxury good"
And the frequent cross border buy/sell means more chances for fakes ot get switched in
and tax frauds to occur!
When it comes to "developing world", well...they either get a glut of cheap drugs, because you know those drugs they may bankrupt you for in the US?
Well, they may sell 'em dirt cheap abroad (comapred to US prices) because that's what the market will bear over
there.
(see similar issue for example, with Microsoft products, lol! yeah, screw the Western public, but sell for a few dollars in Asia because hey, piracy WORKS there, and forced the shmucks ot sell an OS at a sane price, hehe.
i.e. US consumers especially are getting robbed at gunpoint, basically, by the pharma corps.
With way wages are flatlining, versus rising prices of drugs/insurance, US citizens are in extremely deep poo, health wise, in next 20 or 30 years.
BUT
There's also plenty of fakes being made abroad, tests were showing, iirc, 30+% of the drugs tested were fake or so watered down as ot have no therapeutic value in some places (India, SE Asia)
*quick google*
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18147085
Third of malaria drugs 'are fake'
By Michelle Roberts Health editor, BBC News online
Some species in Thailand and Vietnam spread a drug-resistant malaria strain
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A third of malaria drugs used around the world to stem the spread of the disease are counterfeit, data suggests.
Researchers who looked at 1,500 samples of seven malaria drugs from seven countries in South East Asia say poor-quality and fake tablets are causing drug resistance and treatment failure.
Data from 21 countries in sub-Saharan Africa including over 2,500 drug samples showed similar results.
True story
cops are often having to let folk go when busted for carrying hash and soem other drugs, because it's so damn watered down, they couldn't get a conviction if came to court, no kidding!
So this issue affects illegal drug trade too
Actually some of the scum selling fake drugs, moved to that from illegal drugs, easier/safer for them.