Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2017
431. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the amount of counterfeit medication that has been confiscated annually since 2011; the types of counterfeit medication involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41850/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, is the statutory agency responsible for the regulation of human and veterinary medicines, cosmetics and clinical trials in Ireland. One of the HPRA’s roles is to investigate potential breaches of legislation and, where necessary, to take corrective action including legal proceedings. The HPRA works closely with Revenue’s Customs Service, an Garda Síochána and with international enforcement agencies to prevent the unauthorised movement of illegal medicinal products, medical devices and cosmetic products into and out of the State.
Since 2011, the HPRA, working in co-operation with An Garda Síochána and Revenue Customs, has focused on enforcement actions related to four categories of falsified medicinal products: weight-loss products, sedatives, medicinal products for erectile dysfunction, and anabolic steroid-containing medicinal products. The level of medicines detained in any one year varies depending on the particular focus of enforcement activity at that time.
The HPRA has confirmed details of annual confiscations of falsified medicines since 2011 as follows:
2011
Total Number of Dosage Units: 762,641
Top 4:
- Weight Loss: 251,883
- Sedatives: 95,747
- ED: 63,270
- Anabolic Steroids: 14,572
2012
Total Number of Dosage Units: 758,276
Top 4:
- Sedatives: 195,105
- Weight Loss: 153,042
- ED: 52,089
- Anabolic Steroids: 12,872
2013
Total Number of Dosage Units: 919,965
Top 4:
- Sedatives: 422,622
- Weight Loss: 154,251
- ED: 94,754
- Anabolic Steroids: 24,854
2014
Total Number of Dosage Units: 730,056
Top 4:
- Sedatives: 407,502
- ED: 96,703
- Weight Loss: 53,963
- Anabolic Steroids: 20,752
2015
Total Number of Dosage Units: 1,136,494
Top 4:
- Sedatives: 726,164
- ED: 98,642
- Weight Loss: 34,398
- Anabolic Steroids: 38,049
2016
Total Number of Dosage Units: 673,906
Top 4:
- Sedatives: 271,545
- Anabolic Steroids: 109,006
- ED: 95,739
- Weight Loss: 14,830
2017 (to 31 August)
Total Number of Dosage Units: 1,088,394
Top 4:
- Anabolic Steroids: 443,263
- Sedatives: 133,485
- ED: 73,831
- Weight Loss: 14,416.
