730,000 bogus medicines seized by watchdog

Sedatives and products to treat erectile dysfunction and weight loss accounted for the bulk of counterfeit medicines seized by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) last year.

In all, more than 730,000 bogus medicines were detained, of which sedatives made up 56%, erectile dysfunction products 13%, and weight loss products 7%.

Where the recipient could demonstrate that the supply was legitimate, the medicines were forwarded to that person, otherwise packages were destroyed.