Expatica news

Pharmacists to monitor bogus ‘miracle products’

17 June 2005

MADRID — Spain’s association of pharmacists is to monitor complaints about therapeutic products that make unproven claims.

The Centre for the Detection of Miracle Products will deal with concerns about untested pharmaceutical products.

The head of the professional organization’s council, Pedro Capilla, said Spanish pharmacists were worried about the proliferation of these products, which take advantage of consumers’ good faith.

He said the centre would review complaints and issue warnings to health officials, who have the power to take illegal products off the market.

Capilla said some of these products were harmless, but others interfere with medications and could affect the health of consumers.

Council member Aquilino Garcia said the most common “miracle products” promised, among other things, cures for cancer, effortless weight loss and improvement in sexual performance.

Most of these “snake-oil” products are marketed aggressively via radio, Internet and telephone.

Marketing campaigns are kept short to avoid drawing the attention of health officials.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news