MEDICAL drug importers and other stakeholders yesterday participated in a one-day conference that focused on sensitising importers and the general public on the issues of substandard, spurious, falsely-labelled, falsified and counterfeit (SSFFC) drugs.

The conference was held by the Government Analyst – Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation, at Cara Lodge.

Speaking at the conference, Director of the GA-FDD, Marlan Cole, stated that the Department aims to showcase the challenges which Guyana faces when it comes to SSFFC drugs and products.
Cole noted that in less than a year, they have encountered a high amount of reported incidents where persons allegedly fell after the use of a particular drug or medicine and cosmetics also.

LOTS OF SSFFC PRODUCTS
As a result, Cole said, the GA-FDD has intensified their means of investigations and have since recovered a lot of SSFFC products being sold in stores and pharmacies locally.
He added that PAHO has also rendered assistance to the GA-FDD in their effort to reduce the quantity of SSFFC products being sold on the local markets.
Cole noted that apart from intensifying their investigations, they have been making efforts to enhance the food and drug act which governs the work of the GA-FDD.

NEW FOOD AND DRUG LAB
He also disclosed that the GA-FDD will soon be developing a new state-of-the-art food and drug lab which is critical for the consistent and continuous analysis of food and medical drugs being sold locally.
The Ministry of Health, in April, held a seminar where the owners of pharmacies were briefed on the requirements and regulations of the GA-FDD.
In closing, Cole noted that they will continue to work towards developing and maintaining the technical skills and competency of their staff to ensure that the local markets are free of SSFFC products.
Also speaking at the conference, PAHO/WHO Country Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, stated that the marketing of SSFFC drugs and products is a major issue across the globe.
Dr. Adu-Krow noted that use of SSFFC drugs and products can prove to be fatal because of their inability to cure patients.
He said that recently the MOH along with PAHO have been carrying out tests on malaria tablets because there were recent reports of persons receiving malaria tablets which were ineffective.
Dr. Adu-Krow noted also that there is need for more resources in Guyana to test for SSFFC drugs and products.

Meanwhile, in an advisory issued last week, the GA-FDD is warning consumers that there is a counterfeit Bio-Oil product that is being offered for sale on the local market.
The GA-FDD said the authorised distributor of this product, Massy Distribution, had lodged an official complaint with the department and an investigation was subsequently launched.
Moreover, the department has been in direct communication with Nova Group Corporation, the distributor of Bio-Oil in the Caribbean.
Nova Group has furnished the department with results of an independent analysis on the counterfeit Bio-Oil from Colombia Pharmaceuticals Laboratory.
In addition the GA-FDD has dispatched a request for the specification(s) of the Bio-Oil from the manufacture, Swiss Union, in order to conduct additional analysis.
According to online sources, Bio Oil is a topical skin care oil that may help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, aging skin and uneven skin tone. It can be used on the body or face but users must avoid the delicate eye area.

ORIGINAL BIO-OIL
Meanwhile, the following are characteristics of the original Bio-Oil: It is thick in consistency with an orange colour and the label of the original product reads, “Distributed by Nova Marketing Services Inc.”
The net content is presented in ml and fl. Oz. (60ml/2FL.OZ), “Aging Skin” spelt without an E is on the original label, Farnesol and D&C Red No.17 is on the list of ingredients and instructions for use from the second trimester of pregnancy.
The retail cost for the original product is approximately $2,100 for a 60ml/2fl.oz bottle and $3, 544 for a 125ml/4fl. oz bottle.

COUNTERFEIT BIO-OIL
The following are characteristics of the counterfeit Bio-Oil: It is thin in consistency with a light peach colour and on the label of the counterfeited product reads Union Swiss (pty) Ltd. PO Box 2629, Cape Town, South Africa, while the net content is presented in ml only (60ml/125ml),
Also “Ageing Skin” spelt with an E is on the counterfeited label, Farnesol and D&C Red No. 17 is absent from the list of ingredients and with instructions for use from the first trimester of pregnancy.
Lastly the counterfeited version has non-greasy and no preservatives stated on the label and the retail cost for the counterfeited product is approximately $800 for a 60ml bottle and $1,000 for a 125ml bottle.
The GA-FDD said it has carried out inspections and enforcement exercises by visiting a number of retail premises in Georgetown.
Approximately 4 cases x 24 x 60ml/ 2 fl. oz, 4 cases x 24 x 125ml/4 fl. oz and 1 case x 24 x 200ml/6 fl. oz of Bio-Oil products were seized and removed from the premises of several retail entities and efforts are being made to locate the extract source/supplier of the counterfeited Bio-Oil on the local market.
Details of the department’s operations and findings have been dispatched to Environmental Health Officers in the 10 administrative regions of the country who will conduct similar exercises to ensure the local market is free of the counterfeited Bio-Oil.
The department said it will continue to work with the general public and stakeholders to ensure that consumers are not exposed to this public health risk and are calling on consumers to be very cautious when purchasing items that are offered at a significantly reduced price.

(Navendra Seoraj)