Nigerian Children Killed by Contaminated Teething Medicine

Nigerian Children Killed by Contaminated Teething Medicine View larger map What: A toxic chemical mixed into a teething medicine for babies has killed at least 84 children in Nigeria as of February 16, 2009. The children died after taking My Pikin Baby Teething Mixture, a syrup for teething pain, according to Nigeria’s Health Ministry. Health…

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Vested interests in counterfeit drugs [[Nairobi, Kenya]]

Counterfeit drugs are flooding into Africa, where up to one in three medicines can be fake, causing widespread suffering and death. The World Health Organisation wants an international agreement to tackle the threat but is being thwarted by members such as India and Brazil, more concerned with vested interests than African patients. By Bright Simons…

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Protecting Our Supply Chain from Counterfeit Drugs

In the fight against substandard and counterfeit drugs, we can’t forget that these unscrupulous businessmen and counterfeiters don’t just make fake prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, they also counterfeit the raw materials and ingredients used by legitimate manufactures.

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UAE’s efforts to combat faux pharmaceuticals [[Dubai, UAE]]

The plain white boxes with dull grey lettering that line pharmacy shelves are supposed to contain medicine to improve people’s well being. But worldwide concern over the legitimacy of pharmaceuticals has increased markedly in the last three years. At an open forum attended by representatives of the Ministry of Health and private sector on Thursday…

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The Link Between Drug Importation and Counterfeit Drugs

Last week, BBC File On 4 published a story detailing how counterfeit drugs infiltrated the United Kingdom’s national drug supply in 2007. The Medicines Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)—the British equivalent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—issued four emergency recalls notices after a wholesaler spotted packaging discrepancies in several drugs imported from other European countries.

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Police task force to crack down on counterfeit drugs [[Phnom Penh, Vietnam]]

A NEW Ministry of Health task force plans to launch a crackdown next month on pharmacies selling counterfeit over-the-counter drugs. The task force, composed of police officers and called the Police of Justice for the Ministry of Health, will operate in all of the Kingdom's 24 provinces and municipalities, Chou Yinsim, a secretary of state…

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F.D.A. Finds ‘Natural’ Diet Pills Laced With Drugs

Grady Jackson, a defensive tackle with the Atlanta Falcons, said he used the weight-loss capsules. Kathie Lee Gifford was enthusiastic about them on the “Today” show. Retailers like GNC and the Vitamin Shoppe sold them, no prescription required. But the Food and Drug Administration now says those weight-loss capsules, called StarCaps and promoted as natural…

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Malawi alert on fake drugs [[Lilongwe, Malawi]]

Government has said it would from this month intensify border checks on drugs coming into the country to control the proliferation of fake and counterfeit drugs.The move comes after reports of counterfeit and fake versions of malaria drug artesunate, commonly known as LA, in Kenya where police reportedly struck and seized hundreds of thousands of…

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Bogus pharmacies on Internet spread drugs that can be dangerous, deadly

Most people are aware that some jewelry is fake and imitation fancy watches can be bought for less than $50. The only harm here is the economic damage to those selling authentic watches and real gems. But there is a significant business worldwide in the clandestine market of counterfeit prescription drugs that has caused real…

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