Viagra tops list of fake drugs

Abu Dhabi: An increasing number of pharmacies are selling counterfeit drugs, with erectile dysfunction drug Viagra topping the list, health officials said.

"There is a specific group of medicine that was born to be counterfeited," said Dr Mohammad Abu Al Kheir, drug consultant at the General Authority for Health Services (GAHS) in Abu Dhabi. "They are drugs for erectile dysfunction, weight loss, baldness, anxiety, as well as some very expensive drugs."

Viagra, which sells at Dh40 per tablet, has been cited by pharmacists as being the number one drug copied by counterfeiters.

Shop representatives called on authorities to take steps to curb counterfeiting.