National procedure against counterfeited medicines

By Mayora IP

On December 11, 2020, Guatemala’s Prosecutor's Office for Crimes against Intellectual Property carried out more than 30 procedures for the search, registration, inspection and seizure of evidence of counterfeit medicines. The procedures were conducted nationally in the departments of Quiché, Huehuetenango, Suchitepéquez, Quetzaltenango, Chimaltenango, Totonicapán, Baja Verapaz, San Marcos, Zacapa and Sacatepéquez.

“The searches are part of a follow-up to an ex-officio investigation initiated by the Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes against Intellectual Property, as the sales and distribution of allegedly falsified medicines have been increasing throughout the country,” said Spokeswoman Julia Barrera.

A counterfeit medicine is a fake medicine. It may be contaminated, contain the wrong or no active ingredient, or could have the right active ingredient but at the wrong dose. Counterfeit drugs are illegal and may be harmful to public health.  An estimated 10%–30% of medicines sold in developing countries are counterfeit. In the industrialized world (countries such as the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and those in the European Union), estimates suggest that less than 1% of medicines sold are counterfeit.