Medicine quality examination in a pharmacy (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam has joined 12 other Asian countries in a campaign launched by the Interpol in September to prevent the trading of counterfeit pharmaceutical products.
Fake drugs worth 7 million USD were seized by international police during the campaign, Interpol said on December 21.
The counterfeits, including antibiotics, anti-hypertension pills and even rabies vaccines, were taken from pharmacies, markets and online pharmacies when Interpol attempted to inhibit the widespread of fake drugs which are manufactured in the region.
Some 87 individuals were arrested in the crackdown, called “Operation Storm VI”.
According to Head of Interpol’s Global Health and Safety unit Aline Plancon, the operation shows the level of complexity of crimes related to counterfeit pharmaceuticals as well as perils for public health and safety.
A study from the World Health Organisation revealed that Asia, Latin America and especially Africa are hardest hit by fake medicine as their pharmaceutical management and control systems are the weakest in the world.-VNA
