Counterfeit medicine is a menace that must be stopped. Mike Deats, MHRA Head of Enforcement was quoted recently as saying “The MHRA will not hesitate to take action against those who undermine public health.”

This follows the successful prosecution of Graham Dawson, the mastermind behind a scam of conspiracy to supply counterfeit medicines. He received a 44-week sentence, suspended for two years, a two-year supervision order, 180 hours of unpaid work, a curfew from 8pm to 7am and will be required to wear an electronic tag for six months.

Colin Proctor pleaded guilty to 10 offences including possession of medicinal products intended to be placed on the market without marketing authorisation, supplying counterfeit medicines in breach of the Trade Marks Act 1994 (external link) and possessing counterfeit medicines with intent to sell. He was sentenced to a two-year supervision order and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Mike Deats added:

“We believe that these medicines would eventually have been sold online. The danger of purchasing medicines online is that you just don’t know what you are taking. The dosages could be either too high or too low. The medicines we seized were being dispensed from a private address in Bristol. Many of the drugs did not contain the correct active ingredient.”

“Those involved in these types of dealings do not care about your health. They are only in it for one reason and that is to make money.”

The counterfeit drugs found at Proctor’s house included:

  • Cialis (used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction)
  • Viagra
  • Xanax (used in the treatment of anxiety)
  • Levitra (used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction)
  • Stilnox (used in the treatment of sleeping disorders)

bookapharmacist.com advices patients to obtain their medication from reputable sources.

Further information available here

For those who do the crime, you must surely do the time.

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