Cuba issues alert for the circulation of counterfeit drugs.

Cuban health authorities warned about the circulation of “fake medications” in various Latin American countries that could affect sick individuals on the island, according to statements made through different official notes.

The information shared at the end of July by the Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment, and Medical Devices (CECMED), which is the regulatory body for pharmaceutical products, equipment, and medical devices in the Republic of Cuba, indicates the circulation of Dobutamine, Erbitux, Ramiven, Acetaminophen, Dolo-Neurobión Forte (in injectable solution form), and Eutirox in Mexico and El Salvador.

The Cuban regulatory entity specifies that it only has a health registration for Eutirox, but notes that in any case, "international travelers can purchase it" and send it to residents in the country.

“The CECMED has a Sanitary Registration for the product Eutirox (sodium levothyroxine) tablet 100 mcg, from the holder Merck, S. A. de C.V., Mexico, although the batch numbers M16806 and M31772 have not been authorized for importation,” they point out in several notes shared on their website.

In that regard, the recommendations are:

• Do not purchase the product Dobutamine, Injectable Intravenous Solution 250 mg/5 mL, from HEALTH BIOTECH LIMITED., since the origin, manufacturing conditions, and storage conditions are unknown, and therefore its quality, safety, and efficacy may be compromised.
• Do not purchase the product ERBITUX (Cetuximab) 5mg/ml., since the origin, manufacturing conditions, and storage conditions are unknown, it may therefore compromise its quality, safety, and efficacy.
• Do not purchase the product Ramiven (Abemaciclib) 150 mg tablets., since the origin, manufacturing, and storage conditions are unknown and therefore its quality, safety, and efficacy may be compromised.
• Do not purchase the product ACETAMINOFEN MK 500 MG TABLET, lot identified as L01961, with expiration date 12/27., since the origin, manufacturing conditions, and storage conditions are unknown, its quality, safety, and effectiveness may therefore be compromised.
• Do not purchase lots M33440, expiring June 25, and M93983, expiring November 27, of the product Eutirox (levothyroxine sodium) tablet 100 mcg.since the origin, manufacturing conditions, and storage conditions are unknown and therefore its quality, safety, and efficacy may be compromised, posing a risk to public health.
• Do not purchase lots M16806 and M31772 of the product Eutirox (levothyroxine sodium) tablet 100 mcg., since the origin, manufacturing conditions, and storage conditions are unknown and therefore its quality, safety, and efficacy may be compromised, posing a risk to public health.

Similarly, they advised Cuban health professionals that "in case of identifying this product or detecting suspicions of adverse reactions associated with its use, these should be reported to the email: vigilancia@cecmed.cu or to the phone numbers 72164372, 72164352, 72164136."

To identify counterfeit medications, it is suggested to examine the packaging for grammatical or spelling errors, check the manufacturing and expiration dates, verify the appearance of the medication, and consult a healthcare professional if there are any suspicions. It is also recommended to report suspicious medications to the regulatory authority for medicines.

In the midst of the medication crisis that Cuba is experiencing and the authorities' inability to resolve it, Cubans must turn to the informal market to supply themselves with what they need.