Fake drugs market thriving in the UAE

Dubai: The UAE will take stringent steps to curtail distribution of fake drugs and implement a new law to combat this organized crime which is taking a huge toll of lives, a major conference was told here on Tuesday.

Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health, said concerted steps and coordination across various regional and international organizations is needed to tackle this growing menace.

Speaking at the opening of a regional conference on fighting fake  medicines, he said the counterfeiters do not care about the health of public and that it was important to stop the perpetrators of this crime and make them accountable. 

Dr Amin Al Amiri, CEO of Medical Practice, said the UAE has become a hub for exporting fake drugs.

UAE customs officials seized $ 5.4 million ( nearly Dh 20 million) fake sexual stimulants and sedative drugs in 2007. This was the region’s largest raids, he said.

“One per cent of fake drugs discovered in Europe come through the UAE,” he said.