A new public awareness campaign highlighting the serious patient safety risks associated with counterfeit and illegally supplied medicines has been launched, encouraging people to only access prescription medicines through legitimate, regulated channels.
Counterfeit (fake) medicines are those that falsely represent their authenticity or origin and are commonly sold through unregulated websites, social media and other illegal channels. People purchasing these products may have no way of knowing what ingredients they actually contain, whether they were manufactured in safe conditions, or how they have been transported and stored.
Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) has launched the campaign, with data from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) showing that over 5 million dosage units of illegal and falsified medicines were seized between 2021 and 2025 in Ireland, in over 39,000 separate consignments.
“Counterfeit or fake medicines can look convincing, but people have no way of knowing what they contain or whether they are safe,” Sarah Higgins, Medical Lead for Ireland, Eli Lilly and Company, said. “Legitimate prescription medicines undergo rigorous testing, manufacturing and regulatory oversight. Through this campaign, we want to help people understand the risks, recognise the warning signs and know how to protect themselves. If you have concerns about a medicine you have purchased or taken, speak to a healthcare professional as soon as possible.”
Anyone who suspects they have encountered a counterfeit or illegal medicine should seek advice from a healthcare professional and report suspected products to the HPRA at reportacase@hpra.ie or 01-634 3871.
