Source: Jornal de Londrina - Londrina / PR - 09/12/2010

A joint operation by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), Municipal Health Surveillance and the Federal Police resulted in the arrest of two pharmacy owners, arrested in the act yesterday and last Monday for marketing counterfeit and smuggled drugs. The inspection ends tomorrow and, until yesterday, ten establishments - most of them in the city center - had already been closed.

According to Anvisa, the operation was motivated by the large number of complaints received by the federal agency. “We also found establishments that did not have a health license and a license to operate; that is, they were acting illegally ”, declared the action coordinator, Lorilei de Fátima Wzorek, an expert in the Anvisa intelligence area.

Yesterday, the owner of the Central Pharmacy, located at Rua Souza Naves, near Concha Acustica, in the central area, was arrested. On Tuesday, the owner of another establishment was arrested. Anvisa told JL that it will not divulge the name of the prisoners.

In total, more than 100 pills were seized and were being sold irregularly. On visits to pharmacies yesterday, inspectors found 35 pills of the sexual stimulant Pramil and XNUMX boxes of fake Viagra.

Among the crimes practiced by traders are smuggling, drug trafficking (since those involved were selling controlled drugs) and selling products that are out of date.

“Fake drugs are produced in East Asia and enter Brazil through dry borders. We have not found any factory of this type in the country. And most of the counterfeit drugs are of the type for weight loss, for erectile dysfunction and used with anabolic steroids ”, commented the operation coordinator.

The Regional Pharmacy Council (CRF) informed JL that pharmacists involved in irregularities found by Anvisa, Sanitary Surveillance and the Federal Police, may be punished. “Depending on what is proven, the pharmacist can be punished - from a warning to suspension from 3 months to one year. And even, if it is a serious and recurring case, you may lose your diploma ”, said CRF Vice President, Dennis Armando Bertolini. The Federal Police accompanies the inspection with two policemen for each of the four teams that are in action in Londrina.

Travel Tips

Lorilei de Fátima Wzorek, Anvisa specialist, gives some tips for people to avoid buying counterfeit drugs.

The first is not to buy drugs with the packaging open, as it is common to attempt to sell fake medicine along with those regulated.

Another tip is not to buy drugs that have descriptions in the boxes in a foreign language. The Avisa specialist also points out that the customer must be attentive to establishments that do not leave operating and health surveillance permits in sight.

Whistleblowing reports can be made by calling 0800 642 9782 or by Anvisa's website (www.anvisa.gov.br). It is not necessary to identify. (With information from Daniel Costa)