Combating counterfeit drugs

摘要

The US Food and Drug Administration recently issued a final report that identifies ways of combating the growing public health problem of counterfeit prescription drugs in the USA. The report is the outcome of an initiative launched during July 2003, when a task force was formed to identify steps that the Administration, other government agencies and the private sector could take to minimize the risks to the public from counterfeit drugs. It listed tracking systems as one of several steps needed to fight the growing problem. This feature highlights the steps that can be taken to protect consumers, but focuses in particular on radio frequency identification technologies. The counterfeiting of currency and consumer products are common problems that plague governments and manufacturers around the world, but the counterfeiting of medications is a particularly insidious practice.