Beware of counterfeit medicines: MoH

Muscat: The Ministry of Health (MoH) launched an awareness campaign highlighting the risks of counterfeit medicines and unapproved medical products, urging citizens and residents to ensure the safety and authenticity of medicines before use.

The campaign stressed that counterfeit medicines are products presented as medicines but differ in their identity, composition or source, and do not meet approved quality and safety standards.

The ministry highlighted several common forms of counterfeit medicines, including products with incorrect active ingredients or concentrations, expired medicines that have been repackaged, medicines with altered labels and packaging, and products containing unnatural or unsafe components.

According to the ministry, the use of counterfeit medicines may expose patients to serious health risks, including worsening health conditions, treatment failure and, in some cases, complications that could lead to death.

It also outlined key indicators that may raise suspicion about a medicine, such as differences in the shape, colour or quality of packaging, unusual labels or pricing, and changes in the medicine’s appearance or components.

Meawhile, the ministry advised the public to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and trusted sources, and to consult a pharmacist before using any medicine.

It further called on individuals who suspect a medicine to immediately stop using it, consult a doctor or pharmacist, and report the case through the ministry’s official channels.

The MoH emphasised that medicine safety is a shared responsibility and that obtaining medicines from reliable sources is essential to protecting patients’ health and ensuring effective treatment.