The Dominican Republic has made significant progress in combating the illegal trade of counterfeit medicines, according to Eddy Alcántara, executive director of the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumidor). Speaking at a public forum in Santiago, Alcántara said joint operations carried out by government agencies have dismantled distribution networks selling medicines unfit for consumption in several provinces.
He credited the results to the coordinated work of the government’s interagency task force against illicit trade, of which Pro Consumidor is a member, saying the initiative has strengthened consumer protection and improved oversight of the pharmaceutical market.
Medical Samples Found in Illegal Sales
Alcántara said inspections have revealed that many products initially reported as counterfeit were actually medical samples that are legally prohibited from being sold. Although these products contain the original pharmaceutical ingredients, they are intended exclusively for professional distribution and are not authorized for commercial sale.
He explained that Pro Consumidor has met with the Association of Pharmaceutical Representatives and Agents (ARAPF) to determine the origin of these products. Authorities are now focused on tracing how the medical samples enter informal retail channels.
“These products contain the original active ingredients, but they are not authorized for sale, reinforcing the need for stronger monitoring and oversight of the national pharmaceutical market,” Alcántara said.
Complaints Have Declined, Officials Say
The remarks were delivered during the forum “Fake Medicines, Real Risks: Protecting the Health of Our People”, held in Santiago. The event also featured Marcos Balaguer, director of the General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products (DIGEMAPS); Juan Miguel Madera of ARAPF; and Senator Daniel Rivera, who moderated the discussion.
According to Alcántara, reports of counterfeit and adulterated medicines have fallen sharply since the beginning of President Luis Abinader’s administration. He attributed the decline to continuous inspections of pharmacies and informal businesses, combined with strict sanctions and the closure of establishments found selling unauthorized pharmaceutical products.
“Today, Pro Consumidor no longer receives complaints because we monitor the market every day,” Alcántara said.
Millions of Unsafe Medicines Removed
The Pro Consumidor director acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in identifying and regulating businesses that illegally market medical samples rather than counterfeit drugs. He also noted that some of the products seized during inspections were expired medicines that had been removed from the legitimate supply chain.
Between 2022 and 2025, authorities removed more than 42 million units of expired and counterfeit medicines from circulation across the country, according to Pro Consumidor.
Alcántara concluded that while the circulation of counterfeit medicines has declined considerably, authorities intend to maintain strict enforcement and market surveillance to protect public health and prevent unauthorized pharmaceutical products from reaching consumers.