13.05.2025 17:03
The President of the Turkish Pharmacists Association, Arman Üney, emphasized the importance of pharmacies in providing reliable medication and stated that legal regulations should be made against the dangers posed by counterfeit drugs to public health. He highlighted that the sale of vitamins, minerals, and herbal products on the internet and in chain supermarkets is extremely dangerous.
The President of the Turkish Pharmacists Association, Arman Üney, stated, "The medications you receive from pharmacies are always registered, always original, and always reliable. Pharmacies are the only safe and legal address for obtaining medications." Üney made these remarks to the press at an event held in the Turkish Pharmacists Association Conference Hall on the occasion of May 14th, Scientific Pharmacy Day. He expressed that this year's celebration theme is "Health is not far away, it is with your pharmacist," stating that pharmacists are the closest health consultants for patients. Reminding that it has been 186 years since the foundations of modern pharmacy were laid in Turkey, Üney said they are proud to celebrate today with more than 50,000 colleagues.
"THE SAFETY OF PRODUCTS IS NOT QUESTIONED"
Explaining that they continue to protect patients' health, support medication treatments, and provide healing under the guidance of their scientific knowledge, Üney said, "Thanks to developing technology and access opportunities, almost every product can be reached very quickly. However, the reliability of these products is often not questioned. Especially with the impact of the pandemic, social media and e-commerce channels have become widespread. The insufficient regulation of this area has led to a rapid increase in counterfeit and uncontrolled products in the market." he stated.
"PHARMACIES ARE THE ONLY SAFE AND LEGAL ADDRESS FOR OBTAINING MEDICATIONS"
Emphasizing that counterfeit medications are a serious public health issue on a global scale, Üney noted that the total number of crimes reported in this area by international organizations has increased by 38% compared to 2021. He pointed out that legal regulations need to be made to combat this situation, stating: "Effective technological solutions like the drug tracking system implemented by the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency are needed in our country. Because the drug tracking system provides a unique identity for each medication box, ensuring its traceability from production to the end user and ensuring medication safety. This also means that the medications you receive from pharmacies are always registered, always original, and always reliable. Pharmacies are the only safe and legal address for obtaining medications."
"EXTREMELY DANGEROUS"
Üney expressed that in recent years, there has been a very serious situation threatening public health regarding vitamins, minerals, and herbal products, stating, "The sale of these products in internet environments and chain markets, where there are no safety barriers or control mechanisms, and the encouragement of their consumption through advertising by social media influencers is extremely dangerous." Üney also noted that herbal supplements used in high doses and irresponsibly can lead to very serious side effects, especially for expectant mothers, children, the elderly, and citizens with chronic illnesses.