Points clés
- 1A missing or stickered batch number is disqualifying — traceability is what allows a defective batch to be recalled.
- 2Photograph the outer carton, blister and leaflet on arrival; that photo set is the most useful evidence if anything goes wrong.
- 3Manufacturer identity matters more than holograms or seals — look the manufacturer up in a regulator or WHO register.
- 4A positive SMS/QR verification is one signal only — codes can be copied onto counterfeit packs.
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1The ten-point check
Run through this in order. It takes about five minutes and catches the large majority of problems.
- 1Manufacturer is named clearly on the carton, with a full address — not just a marketing company.
- 2Batch or lot number is printed, not handwritten or stickered, and matches between carton and blister.
- 3Manufacturing and expiry dates are present, plausible and consistent across all packaging layers.
- 4Active salt name and strength match your prescription exactly, including the full salt form.
- 5Printing quality is sharp, correctly aligned and free of spelling errors.
- 6Carton seals and blister foil are intact, with no signs of resealing or re-glueing.
- 7A patient information leaflet is enclosed and matches the product.
- 8Tablets or capsules are uniform in size, colour, shape and imprint, with no chips, cracks or loose powder.
- 9There is no unexpected odour, discolouration or stickiness.
- 10The manufacturer can be found in a regulator or WHO prequalification listing.
2Digital verification where available
Several markets have introduced serialisation and track-and-trace schemes. The European Union's Falsified Medicines Directive requires a unique identifier and anti-tampering device on most prescription packs, verified at the point of dispensing.
Many manufacturers also print a scannable code or an SMS verification code that returns an authenticity response. Where such a code exists, use it — but treat a positive response as one signal among several, since codes can be copied onto counterfeit packs.
3What to do if verification fails
Do not take the medicine, and do not throw it away. The physical product is evidence.
- 1Stop use immediately and isolate the product.
- 2Photograph everything, including the shipping packaging.
- 3Contact a pharmacist for advice on any doses already taken.
- 4Notify the seller in writing and request the supply-chain documentation.
- 5Report to your national medicines regulator — this is how bad suppliers get removed.
- 6If you have symptoms, seek urgent medical care and bring the packaging with you.
Ce que montre le jeu de données Jivan
- 59×
- écart moyen de prix
- 84%
- des ancres dépassent 10×
- 344×
- plus grand écart documenté
Across our full referenced dataset, 476 referenced molecules average a 59× price gap, 84% of them are at least 10× cheaper in India, and the widest documented comparison is Colchicine at 344×. Across the full referenced dataset the gap is systematic rather than anecdotal: 84% of anchored molecules are at least 10× cheaper, with a 59× average ratio — a market-structure effect repeated across all 26 therapy areas.
Calculé en direct à partir de 476 anchors
Questions fréquentes
Sophisticated counterfeits can reproduce packaging very closely. That is precisely why manufacturer identification, batch traceability and buying through channels that require a prescription matter more than visual inspection alone.
Not necessarily. Pharmacies change generic suppliers routinely, and different manufacturers produce different-looking tablets with the same active ingredient. Confirm the salt and strength on the label, and ask the pharmacist to verify the supplier change.
No. Holograms and security stickers are copied by counterfeiters. Use them as one signal alongside manufacturer identification, batch traceability and channel legitimacy.
Sources et lectures complémentaires
Chaque fait ci-dessus est traçable vers une source primaire publique. Nous citons les régulateurs et les organismes de santé publique, pas les vendeurs commerciaux.
- 1WHO Prequalification of Medical ProductsWorld Health Organization
- 2Central Drugs Standard Control OrganisationGovernment of India, CDSCO
- 3Find a Safe Online PharmacyNational Association of Boards of Pharmacy
- 4openFDA Drug Label APIU.S. Food & Drug Administration
Comment cet article a été rédigé
Rédigé et recherché
Health Safety Editor, Jivan Editorial TeamRelu éditorialement
Editorial Review Board — Jivan
Checked against regulator label information before publication.
Avertissement médical important
Consultez toujours un médecin avant de changer de médicament, de dose ou de marque. Jivan fournit des informations éducatives et tarifaires et ne remplace ni un diagnostic ni les soins d'urgence.