Rx360 Launches Physician Education Campaign on the Risks of Counterfeit Drug Wholesalers

Rx360 has launched a new campaign educating healthcare providers about the risks of buying diverted and suspect products advertised directly to doctors' offices via fax blast, direct email and online marketing.

Lewis T. Kontnik, team lead for the education campaign, says, "Some of the recent problems with counterfeit and diverted medicines in the US, including
the counterfeit versions of Avastin, resulted in part from a lack of awareness by physicians and medical practice administrators of the risks of counterfeit and diverted medicines. The ads of the professional diverters can appear tempting when they promise 'genuine' medicine and substantial discounts, however the facts are different and the consequences can be very serious."

Kontnik points to the FDA's warning about counterfeit Avastin or Altuzan which were sold directly to physicians by foreign distributors through US middlemen.

"The 'Protect Your Patients—Know Your Supplier' flyer is designed to help healthcare providers and administrators who purchase and dispense medicine better understand the risks of counterfeit and diverted medicine.  It also teaches them to identify suspicious offers in order to only buy medicines in a safe manner.

The flyer provides information about how to report suspicious activity, such as suspected counterfeiting, and explains the risks to doctors for using unapproved medication.  The consequences are very serious. Patient safety can be threatened by products of unknown origin, as they have in the past.  Patients who received counterfeit medications have sickened and even died because the medications contained the wrong ingredients, contaminated medicines or degraded drugs.

Additionally, healthcare professionals who purchase and use unapproved drug products are subject to criminal and civil liability.  It is illegal under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to import and use drug products unapproved by the FDA.  Also billing the government or private insurance for unapproved medicines may be fraud and not covered by malpractice insurance, warns Rx-360.

Learn more about the campaign at Rx-360.org.