How to report counterfeit medicines?

Reporting counterfeit medicines is important to protect public health and prevent the spread of harmful and ineffective products. Here’s how you can report counterfeit medicines:

Contact Regulatory Authorities

• In most countries, there are regulatory authorities responsible for overseeing the safety and quality of medicines. 
• These agencies might have dedicated hotlines or online forms to report counterfeit medicines. 

Use MedWatch or Similar Programs

• In the United States, you can report counterfeit medicines through the FDA’s MedWatch program. 
• Check any program like MedWatch program in your country.
• This program allows consumers and healthcare professionals to report adverse events and product complaints related to medicines.

Contact Law Enforcement

• If you come across counterfeit medicines, you can also report them to your local law enforcement agency. 
• They can investigate and take appropriate action against counterfeiters.

Report to Pharmaceutical Companies

• You can also report counterfeit medicines directly to the pharmaceutical company that produces the genuine version of the medicine. 
• They might have mechanisms in place to collect information on counterfeit products.

Use International Reporting Platforms

• Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) have platforms and programs to report counterfeit medicines on a global scale.

Report to Online Marketplaces

• If you encounter counterfeit medicines while shopping online, report the issue to the platform or website where you made the purchase. 
• They may act against the seller and remove the listing.

Provide Detailed Information:

• When reporting counterfeit medicines, provide as much information as possible, including.
• Description of the medicine and packaging
• Name and contact details of the seller or source
• Location where the product was purchased.
• Any relevant serial numbers, barcodes, or markings on the packaging

Preserve Evidence

• If possible, keep the counterfeit product, packaging, and any related documentation as evidence. 
• This could be useful for investigations.

Stay Informed:

Stay updated on the progress of the investigation or any actions taken by the regulatory authorities or law enforcement.