BVI: Fake drugs on the market

The invitation to attend this conference came through the Ministry of Health and Mr. [Marvin] Blyden said the BVI was the only country from this part of the region that was represented. Most of the participants came from Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

He said the seminar was very intense, it was eye opening and “frightening”. There were thirteen speakers and each spoke on different drug counterfeiting problems affecting the entire region. Some of the well known pharmaceuticals were Viagra, Lipitor, Cough Syrup, Nutropin, Serostim, Artesunate, Counterfeit Patches and Birth Control.

“I was very appalled when I learned that Paracetamol Syrup was a hot target, because Paracetamol is the first and simplest choice of every doctor,” Mr. Blyden stated. “I have noticed that the products that were most expensive were the first to be targeted.”

One of the most important components of any pharmaceutical is the active ingredient.  Experts say thousands of people have unknowingly been killed by pharmaceuticals “they have taken in trust that they contain no active ingredient”.

The speakers called for stiffer penalties, new laws, tougher security and more control.