E-DRUG: Informal Drugs Market and Essential Drugs Policy

Dear E-druggers,

1. The question of informal drug distribution should also include
direct-selling which commands a huge market many developing countries
like Malaysia. Sometime it is also built over a pyramid system (such as
the on the collapses in Albania recently). The range of products is
large beginning with E-drugs to a lot of other dubious (unherad of)
products with a variety of claims as well. In Malaysia vitamins and
herbal products (in modern dosage forms) are particularly being promoted
in this way. Because the direct-selling system penetrate
deep into the remote areas it is are virtually unknown (and thus not
controlled in any desirable way). We get only to know about them when
patients called us up suspecting some ADR or worst still being poisoned.
Some substandard products are also promoted through such a system. l
wonder whether Brian's work in Indonesia also refers to such a system.

2. By the way recently l got a glossy brochure about a product called LIBID
produced in Norway. It claims to be some sort of "aprodisiac" and as far
as l can tell has escape the registration net in the country. Would not
be suprised if this is part of direct-selling gimmick. Any one knows about
this product?

3. We are presently doing a study on drug distribution in Malaysia, and
any inputs will be welcome.

Regards,
DZULKIFLI Abdul Razak
National Poison Centre
Malaysia
Email: dzul@usm.my

--
Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.
Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'.
For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.