Pharmacists Caught Selling Fake Viagra

Fake Viagra Imported from China.

Park Si-soo in the Korea Times reports on a group of pharmacists in Seoul, South Korea who were charged with selling counterfeit drugs.

According to the Korea Times article:

• A group of pharmacists were caught selling fake Viagra pills imported from China.

• The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said 15 pharmacists were booked on suspicion of selling the fake pills that could cause consumers to die of a heart attack in the worst case.

• Each pill was purchased for 2,000 won and resold to consumers for 15,000-18,000 won each.

• Experts called for a tough crackdown on the circulation of fake Viagra pills.

• Offenders without a prior criminal record face a fine of up to 5 million won or a business suspension for up to 15 days.

Clearly the selling of dangerous, potentially deadly counterfeit drugs by healthcare professionals to their unsuspecting patients is troubling.

Especially troubling is the light penalties for those convicted of this potentially lethal criminal act.

When pharmacists, healthcare providers or members of the supply chain have few legal barriers or no imposing penalties to protect their inventories from bogus drugs, the potential for the introduction of fraudulent, adulterated, sub-standard and counterfeit drugs into the legitimate pharmaceutical supply chain increases significantly.

The proliferation of fraudulent, adulterated, sub-standard and counterfeit drugs has become one of the most lethal criminal acts and healthcare epidemics in the 21st century. All members of the pharmaceutical supply chain-regulators, raw material providers, manufacturers, distributors and providers-must take proactive steps in protecting the consumer from these lethal fakes.

To read the entire Korea Times article, visit: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/12/113_77963.html

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