Beware of fake drugs, says Suyudi

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi asked the public on Tuesday to take care when buying medicine as his ministry had found that 29 varieties are fake and could endanger their lives.

Speaking after a working meeting with the House of Representatives Commission VII, Sujudi said that a survey conducted by the Food and Drugs Supervisory Board under the Ministry of Health had concluded that 29 different medicines had been faked and sold in Jakarta.

"To avoid the fake medicines, people should buy their medicine in pharmacies or licensed drug stores," he was quoted by Antara as saying. He added that the fake medicines were usually sold by unlicensed stores.

According to him, most of the medicines that are faked are those that sell well.

The 29 fake medicines are Diamicron, Fansider, Voltaren, Apisate, Ponstan, Incidal, Sinalar N cream, Diprogenta cream, Garamycin 1 g cream, Penicilin Niuma, Viagra tablet, Pronicy, Kenacomb cream, Esperson cream, Salisilat skin salve, Benzoat, Sulfas, Ziloric, Tetracyclin, Chloramex, Desxtamin, Klorampenikol, Thiamicin, Somadril Comp, Kofein, Cordipront, Kemicetine, Erythromicin and Alpahist.