Verifying counterfeit eye drops and anti-cancer drugs in Hanoi
The Ministry of Health requested verification of a number of counterfeit and suspected counterfeit drugs appearing in the supply chain at the Hapulico Drug Wholesale Center (Hanoi) and drugs purchased at outside pharmacies for use in the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.
The Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health) said on April 6 that since the beginning of the year, the agency has received information from five companies and units: AstraZeneca Vietnam Co., Ltd.; Novartis Vietnam Co., Ltd.; F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Representative Office in Hanoi; Les Laboratoires Servier Representative Office in Hanoi; Takeda Pharmaceuticals (Asia Pacific) Pte., Ltd. Representative Office, regarding the discovery of several batches of counterfeit, suspected counterfeit, and unknown-origin drugs.
This agency requested the Hanoi Department of Health to focus on verifying a number of counterfeit and suspected counterfeit drugs appearing in the supply chain at the Hapulico Drug Wholesale Center (No. 1 Nguyen Huy Tuong, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi) and drugs purchased at pharmacies for use in the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, such as:
- TobraDex, box of 1 5ml Droptainer, labeled with lot number: 22C10HB, expiry date/EXP: 10/3/2024, manufacturing date/MFD: 10/03/2022; lot number: 22B16LA, expiry date/EXP: 16/2/2024, manufacturing date/MFD: 16/2/2022. This is an eye drop.
In February, the Drug Administration of Vietnam issued a nationwide notice on counterfeit and suspected counterfeit drugs, including TobraDex, labeled with batch number 22C10HB, with images to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit drugs.
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The height of the fake medicine bottle (55mm) is lower than the real medicine; the bottom of the fake medicine bottle does not match the design of Novartis. Photo: Department of Drug Administration |
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- Adcetris 50mg, anticancer drug, labeling registration number: 1-647-15, Public Price: 13071.30 SR.
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Image of drug packaging registered in Vietnam (left) and counterfeit products. Photo: Department of Drug Administration |
The Drug Administration also requested the Hanoi Department of Health to direct functional units to strengthen inspection and examination (periodically and suddenly) of the implementation of professional regulations on pharmaceuticals of establishments producing, trading and using drugs in the area; promptly detect, prevent and strictly handle according to regulations cases of trading in fake drugs, drugs of unknown origin, smuggled drugs, and drugs purchased and sold without valid invoices and documents.
At the same time, develop plans and coordinate with functional agencies (Police, Market Management, Customs, City Steering Committee 389 ...), conduct peak inspections, checks and combat against counterfeit drugs, smuggled drugs, drugs of unknown origin in the area, and strictly handle violating organizations and individuals.
Testing centers need to increase sampling and quality control of drugs circulating in the area for drugs at risk of quality violations...
