Trafficking in counterfeit medicines would become a major problem in Egypt. An independent body to oversee the registration, pricing, sales and quality control of medicines is sorely lacking. An Egyptian drug committee could also fill the gaps of a missing strong law incriminating the production and sale of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
The fake medications sold are now vital ones such as treatments against cancer, liver inflammation, allergies and diabetes.
Today, the penalties include fines ranging from 20,000 Egyptian pounds (or US$2,600) to 50,000 Egyptian pounds (or US$6,600) and a two-year prison sentence. This sanction could be worse if the fake medication causes death.
Source: Al-Monitor