Jamaicans are being urged to avoid purchasing pharmaceutical drugs promoted on social media platforms, amid rising concerns about the circulation of counterfeit and unregistered medications in the country.
The warning came from Chair of the Pharmacy Council of Jamaica, Dr. Ernestine Watson, who spoke at the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Anti-Illicit Trade Forum held on Wednesday, April 30, at the AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston.
Despite existing government safeguards, billions of dollars’ worth of illicit goods—including pharmaceutical products—continue to enter the island. Dr. Watson said a growing number of these unauthorized drugs are now being marketed on platforms like Instagram, sometimes disappearing just after being contacted by potential buyers.
“You see on IG Ozempic being advertised, and as Chair of the Pharmacy Council, I get all of the links,” she explained. “After the second call, the site goes away, or the number that you called is no longer in service.”
Ozempic, which has gained popularity for weight loss, is one of several drugs being offered locally without approval. Dr. Watson cautioned that these drugs are often unregistered or not approved for distribution in Jamaica, making them potentially dangerous.
“As consumers, we have to be very vigilant and do our own research,” she added. “It’s our body, so we need to know what we’re putting inside.”
The dangers of counterfeit drugs are not theoretical. Dr. Watson shared troubling examples, including a cancer patient treated with a drug later found to be fake, and a kidney failure patient who spent weeks undergoing ineffective therapy due to counterfeit medication for anemia.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr. Anthony McLaughlin, head of the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime (CTOC) Branch, described the illicit drug trade as widespread and deeply embedded. He recounted seeing medical-grade saline bags being sold from handcarts in downtown Kingston and warned about the difficulty of spotting fake medications like Viagra, which often mimic genuine tablets almost exactly.
“Unless you know exactly what to look for, it can be passed on to you as a genuine product,” ACP McLaughlin noted, referencing training they received from Pfizer representatives to identify subtle differences in counterfeit pills.
Both Dr. Watson and ACP McLaughlin strongly urged citizens to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and approved outlets, as the country grapples with the growing threat of illicit pharmaceuticals.
