Counterfeit products and health fraud scams

It is common that, to a greater or lesser degree, there are health supplies that are falsified, such as some medicines or health fraud scams that are advertised with qualities that they do not have, such as some food supplements. In the best of cases,

they will have no effect, but in the worst, they can seriously harm the health of consumers, in addition to constituting fraud.

Participants in this market have different responsibilities:

• Authorities: exercise effective health surveillance and guide the consumer about the risks of consuming this kind of product.

• Distributors and Pharmacies: verify that the documentation that protects the product is in accordance with the law, such as the authorization or marketing notice before Cofepris.

• Consumer: follow the instructions of a doctor and acquire the medicine that was prescribed, if in doubt, ask about changing the prescription. Question the products that are advertised in the mass media or that are recommendations, can I treat it with medicine, changes in diet, exercise, or sleep?

• Physicians: be aware of the efficacy, availability, and price of the medications they prescribe in order to make the necessary adjustments.