Russians were given ways to verify the authenticity of medicines

Counterfeit medicines pose a serious threat to public health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 10% of all medicines in the world are counterfeit, and in some countries this figure reaches 50%. Anatoly Khavkin, Logistics Director of Ozon Pharmaceuticals, told Izvestia on August 14 how to verify the authenticity of the medicine and why it is important.

"In Russia, counterfeit products most often imitate popular brands by copying their packaging and composition. Antibiotics, analgesics, hormonal and antitumor drugs are the most susceptible to counterfeiting. A significant amount of counterfeiting is detected in the activities of unlicensed online pharmacies," he warned.

Taking fake medicines can lead to serious consequences, from a complete lack of therapeutic effect to the development of serious complications. To solve this problem, Russia has introduced a system of labeling and traceability of medicines (MDLP) within the framework of the state project "Honest Sign".

The MDLP system provides complete control of the movement of each package of a medicinal product from the manufacturer to the end user. Each drug is labeled with a unique Data Matrix code — a two-dimensional barcode containing complete information about the name, series, expiration date, manufacturer, and route of the product from the factory to the pharmacy chain.

You can verify the authenticity of the drug within 30 seconds: you need to download the Honest Sign mobile application, scan the code with your smartphone camera and wait for the verification results. If the system confirms the status of the drug, you can be sure of its quality. The messages "The code has not been found" or "The code has already been checked" are a signal of possible forgery and a reason to contact Roszdravnadzor, the expert explained.

The power of shock: promising dementia drug has been tested on animals

What have the studies of the innovative drug shown in transgenic mice?

In addition to protecting against counterfeiting, the MDLP system increases the transparency of preferential drug provision, improves the availability of drugs in the regions, and strengthens patient confidence. Thanks to its implementation, the share of counterfeit medicines in pharmacy chains has significantly decreased. According to VTsIOM research, the majority of Russians believe that mandatory labeling should primarily apply to pharmaceutical products and dietary supplements, followed by food and children's products.

"For the safe purchase of medicines, it is recommended to follow simple rules: always check the Data Matrix code, purchase drugs only from licensed pharmacies (the license must be posted on the sales floor or on the online pharmacy website), avoid purchases from online sellers without providing contact information," Khavkin said.

In addition, according to him, various packaging defects can serve as signs of forgery — chips on ampoules, leaky blisters, since the pharmaceutical logistics system must ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements and exclude the possibility of damage to products.

"The key condition for effective pharmaceutical logistics is strict adherence to the principles of GDPR (Good Distribution practice). Companies are required to work in accordance with international standards for the distribution of medicines, observing all requirements for storage and transportation to preserve the effectiveness and safety of drugs," Khavkin explained.

Earlier, on July 23, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the SM Clinic Reproductive Health Center, Idilia Orfanova, named vitamins for women's health. The doctor noted that vitamins A, C, D and E, as well as folic acid (vitamin B9), will be useful.

All the important news is in our channel in the MAX messenger.