Dominican government removed 42 million counterfeit and expired medications

The Dominican government has removed over 42 million units of counterfeit, expired, and unauthorized medications from the market between 2022 and 2025, according to Pro Consumidor director Eddy Alcántara. Source: El Día The announcement was made during the forum "Fármacos Falsos, Riesgos Reales" in Santiago.

Operations and impact

Alcántara reported that complaints about counterfeit drugs have drastically decreased thanks to ongoing operations in pharmacies and informal establishments. "Hoy no llega ninguna reclamación ni denuncia a Pro Consumidor porque le damos seguimiento todos los días," he stated. Source: El Caribe The government has dismantled distribution networks across several provinces.

Nature of seized products

A key nuance emerged: many products previously labeled as counterfeit are actually medical samples whose commercialization is prohibited by law. "Una parte significativa de los productos médicos comercializados en negocios informales ... se trata de muestras médicas," Alcántara explained. Source: El Día These contain original molecules but cannot be sold. Pro Consumidor is working with the pharmaceutical association (ARAPF) to trace their origin. Source: Diario Libre Despite progress, challenges remain in regulating the sale of these samples. Source: El Caribe