Deadly drugs racket - Pfizer fears some local pharmacies are selling counterfeit Viagra
Published:Saturday | May 12, 2018 | 12:00 AMCarlene Davis
One of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer, is expressing fear that some pharmacies in Jamaica are selling counterfeit versions of its flagship drug Viagra, which is used to treat erection problems in men.
Security Consultant for Pfizer Percival Jordan says that the counterfeit version of the little blue pill is being sold on the local black market and in registered pharmacies.
"In Jamaica, we found out that there are things going on in pharmacies here, but everybody is afraid to step forward. So we are saying, if you know of a pharmacy or know of a person, you can just put it on a piece of paper and we will develop that in conjunction with the local authorities, and that's all we ask of you," Jordan told a pharmaceutical counterfeiting conference in New Kingston last Thursday.
Jordan gave members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and prosecutors a quick course on how to identify counterfeit pharmaceuticals, specifically Viagra and Cytotec, which he noted were not authorised for sale in Jamaica.
"People think that Cytotec is something that is used for abortion. It wasn't designed for that. It was designed for gastric problems.
"If somebody used Cytotec for an abortion, they have to get it from somewhere. They have to get it from a pharmacy or from somebody, and that's what we are trying to find out," added Jordan.
Teamwork needed
He told the conference that the fight against counterfeit pharmaceuticals was a battle, and teamwork was needed in order to win.
"Police, Customs, the coast guard, when they go on operations, they are looking for money, guns, and drugs. They are not interested in pharmaceutical products. So for us to be successful in our mission, we have to be training them and changing the way they think," said Jordan.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Victor Barrett of the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC) told the conference that the counterfeit pharmaceutical industry was getting out of proportion worldwide.
According to Barrett, in Jamaica, C-TOC has been very proactive in keeping it under control.
"Forty thousand pills at US$28 each. Just do the maths. And 40,000 pills, you can mask them in some cornflakes boxes, you can carry them in a little bag and bring them through the ports, and you transport that like six times for the year. It's big business," said Barrett.
He urged Jamaicans to stick to reputable pharmacies when purchasing pharmaceutical drugs.
"Buy from pharmacies that you have a long-standing relationship with. Read and trust your gut. Just be cautious when you are buying drugs.
"You buy a medication from a man on the street telling you he has some blood pressure tablet. It's cheaper than the pharmacy. You buy it from him and it costs you your life.
"You can't claim against him because you're dead, or if you have other ailments, you probably can't find him," said Barrett.