Aug 29, 2019
How to distinguish scammers and fake medicines – tips from Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health has prepared tips to help patients identify cases of medicines fraud. Attempts to sell unregistered drugs over the Internet often occur, and here you should follow simple recommendations:
- Check if the medicine is registered in the State Register of Medicines of Ukraine by the link: http://www.drlz.com.ua/. You can check by name, registration certificate number or active substance.
- Check sources of information. It happens that scammers post news with a link to fake sites that have only one page. Carefully check the addresses of sites to which you go. And if you see the message “recommended by the Ministry of Health” or “recommended by Ulyana Suprun” – be skeptical. Ministry of Health of Ukraine and acting The Minister of Health, Dr. Ulyana Suprun, do not advertise for any medicine. All messages are published on the official website of the Ministry of Health and on the pages of the Ministry in social networks.
- Pay attention to the method of sale. According to Ukrainian law, the sale of medicines is performed through pharmacy institutions and cannot be carried out remotely and by electronic commerce, as well as by mail and through any institution other than pharmacy.
- Pay attention to the wording for the price. The Ministry of Health does not regulate the price of medicines, therefore the statement “the special price of the Ministry” is false. Now the Ministry of Health of Ukraine affects the formation of prices for medicines for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and asthma only under the “Affordable Medicines” program: manufacturers whose prices for medicines are not higher than a certain set limit can take part in the program. Under this program, patients can receive medicines for free or with a small payment as prescribed by the family doctor with whom the declaration is signed.
