Unauthorized Medications in Mexico: Health Risks and Government Actions

2024-03-12 04:31:00
Some medications are not authorized for sale in Mexico. PHOTO: Archive

So far this administration, the government of Mexico City has suspended 138 pharmacies and carried out 150 seizures with a total of 701 kilograms, 2,584 liters and 2,029 pieces of medicines and supplies, this in order to avoid health risks.

The Ministry of Health of Mexico City (SEDESA), through the Health Protection Agency (AGEPSA), has carried out 2,791 health verifications at pharmacies in the 16 municipalities, where 138 locations were suspended.

The main reasons for suspension and seizure of products in pharmacies were: medications and supplies without health registration, batch number or with an expired expiration date; marketing of medicines that are medical samples or of unknown origin in private pharmacies.

The health authorities also found the sale of imported supplies not authorized for sale in Mexico; lack of Health License or Operating Notice; and establishments dependent on any other premises or residential home.

In Mexico, vaccines against Covid-19 approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) can now be purchased in pharmacies, such as those from the pharmaceutical companies Moderna or Pfizer. Archive photography. EFE/Alberto Valdes

According to the capital authorities, this agency is carrying out a series of inspections and health promotion activities in pharmacies and pharmacies distributed throughout the territory of the Mexican capital.

In addition to the seizure of products and suspension of services, efforts are made to provide advice and training to the owners of said establishments to correct bad practices.

During the inspections, various problems have been detected, such as improper handling of medications, inappropriate diagnoses and dispensing of drugs by unauthorized personnel, as well as the sale of counterfeit or contaminated products.

These improper practices can result in the absence of a desired therapeutic effect, poisoning or even serious damage to the health of consumers. Therefore, the public must ensure that they make their drug purchases in legitimate establishments and under appropriate conditions.

At the national level, 31 pharmacies in Baja California were also suspended for having medications with possible fentanyl (Mexico). EFE/Joebeth Terriquez

To protect the health of the population, a series of recommendations have been issued when purchasing medications. Among them, verify that the medicine is visible to the public, check the existence of valid health permits and inspect the cleanliness and order of the place.

It is also important to purchase medicines only in recognized establishments, avoid expired or spoiled products, and understand that pharmacists are not authorized to diagnose or prescribe treatments.

The case of antibiotics and controlled medications is of special attention, since these should only be sold with a valid medical prescription.

These measures seek to ensure access to safe and effective pharmaceutical products, and reduce the risks associated with the consumption of unauthorized or inappropriate medications.

Operations in pharmacies nationwide

On February 23, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador acknowledged that the federal government, through the Secretary of the Navy and other entities, have carried out operations in pharmacies throughout the country.

“There is an operation to combat the distribution of chemical precursors, because that is what predominates,” said the federal president during his morning conference.

When asked by a reporter, the president thus justified the closure of establishments in Cancún, Quintana Roo, and Ensenada, Baja California, for the alleged sale of controlled medications.

In recent months, alerts were raised about the sale in Mexican territory of medication with fentanyl as one of its active ingredients, so Cofepris has already taken action on the matter.

“Marijuana plantations, including cocaine, have already gone into the background, now they are chemicals, chemical precursors, and they are the most addictive and the ones that cause the most damage, and that is why we are making the modification to the law to punish with more severity regarding fentanyl and chemicals,” said the President of the Republic.

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