Abstract:Over the recent years, there has been an alarming increase in the market penetration of the so-called "counterfeit" medicinal products in the European Union and worldwide. These products usually contain substandard (lower quality) or false ingredients, do not contain the necessary ingredients, or contain substances or active pharmaceutical ingredients, which are wrongly or incorrectly dosed. Bulgarian experience has shown that the counterfeit medicinal products enter the market not only through illegal channels, but are also distributed in and/or through lawful channels and distribution chains of medicinal products manufacturers (importers), wholesalers and retailers (pharmacies and drugstores). A special phenomenon is the distance selling of medicinal products, including on-line marketing (internet trade)-perhaps the riskiest way the counterfeit medicinal products reach the patients. Counterfeit medicinal products are one of the most significant threats to human health and their market penetration can lead to loss of confidence in the drug distribution systems and in the public health system as a whole.
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