China to tighten drug safety checks

China will tighten the inspection of pharmaceutical products to prevent drug safety accidents, the country's drug watchdog said Tuesday, disclosing that the licenses of 353 medicines have been revoked since August 2006. Wu Zhen, deputy director of the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), said about 3,049 applications for producing new drugs were turned down…

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WHO worried about fake drugs in Indonesia

The World Health Organisation says pharmaceutical markets across Southeast Asia are becoming increasingly inundated with fake drugs, some of which are being used to treat life threatening illnesses. It's estimated that 25 per cent of the drugs on sale in Indonesia may be counterfeits. Katie Hamann reports from Jakarta that police in the Indonesia capital…

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Fake drugs are killing thousands

Sooner or later, most travellers to southeast Asia will eventually buy a fake. I used to have drawers of the stuff – a reproduction gold Rolex was one unfortunate purchase and I'm sure the odd counterfeit designer handbag made it home as a gift. It's tempting to view the trade as harmless. If the accessories…

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Beware of counterfeit meds

Question: I take medicine to control my cholesterol levels. I was happy with the results until lately, when my cholesterol levels have gone back up. What could be the problem? Answer: First, make sure that you haven't changed your diet, decreased your exercise, or gained weight. If none of those have occurred, it might be…

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Police break up fake drug ring

JAKARTA: Central Jakarta Police have arrested 11 people suspected of producing and distributing counterfeit drugs. Police said Tuesday the suspects produced and packaged counterfeit over-the-counter medicines in Pasar Pramuka market, Cempaka Putih district, to be sold to small health clinics in several regions. 22 February 2007 Read the full story at thejakartapost.com.

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2 Japanese men nabbed for fake drugs

Thirty-six-year-old Yuya Ohama and 44-year-old Takahiro Ogawa were arrested yesterday at a luxury Sukhumvit condominium. Police also found 20,000 "Cialis" pills. Police said the pair was selling packages of the drug for Bt20,000 on the Internet. The price works out to about Bt500 for each pill. 18 February 2007 Read the full story at nationmultimedia.com.

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