Tehran, June 24, IRNA - About 20 to 30 percent of diet and cosmetic medicines, used in Iran, are counterfeit which threaten the health of the society, said the deputy head of Tehran Medical Organization for research an training affairs.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Qiamat added a majority of such medicines are produced in illicit workshops in India, China, Pakistan and even some European countries.
He said producers gain huge profit from manufacturing and distributing spurious medicines, adding hidden hands are involved in smuggling such products to Iran?s high demand market.

The official said relevant organizations and officials are expected to seriously tackle the problem.

Criticizing the weak performance of the Health Ministry of the past government in this respect, he urged the people to buy cosmetic and hygienic products only from pharmacies.

?They should not be deceived by low priced fake products,? he said.

The problem of counterfeit drugs is known to exist in both developed and developing countries. However, the exact extent of the problem is not really known since no global study has been conducted.

Both government authorities and manufacturers are concerned by efforts to prevent the problem and World Health Organization has received voluntary reports on counterfeit drugs from some of its member states.

By IRNA

 

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