Counterfeit health and wellness products in the Middle East have become a major public concern now, including products of International Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which have been providing wellness products for 65 years. Most especially one of their flagship products – Omega Pain Killer liniment, where a dramatic rise to counterfeit items was noticed in recent years. Counterfeiting is a serious issue as there are no product development guidelines, product testing, and government regulation on counterfeit products, which puts the safety of consumers at risk.
To address this issue, a press conference was held on February 23, 2023, at DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, organized by Al Buldan Drug Store and International Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Jacob Varghese, Managing Director of Al Buldan company, said that they launched an investigation after consumers complained about finding the product being sold at a cheaper price in the market. “The price of the fakes was about 30 percent to 40 percent cheaper,” Varghese said.
Al Buldan has filed a complaint with the Dubai Economic Department and has also begun preliminary legal action against counterfeiters to protect consumers from potential health side effects from using the fake products, Varghese said. He added that Omega Pain Killer is popular among the Asian expats in the entire Middle East.
Meanwhile, Maria Celeste Wong, Team Lead for International Operation of Omega liniment maker International Pharmaceuticals Incorporation, said that consumers should look out for tell-tale signs of counterfeit Omega liniment. “You won’t notice it immediately from the packaging, but once you look at the details like the expiration date, you will know. Fake ones have an expiration date of 5 to 6 years. The original will have an expiration date of three years only”, Wong disclosed.
IPI Sales and Marketing – Vice President, Ryan Glenn Butron claimed the economic losses are between 70 and 80 per cent. He added the fake product is easy to decipher because of its glossy packaging with the previous distributor still in the “inkjet printing”.
Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver, Philippine Consul General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates Renato Duenas Jr., Abu Dhabi Police Col. Mohammad Al Dhaheri, and Al Buldan Group sponsor Hamad Mohamed Hussain Anwadi attended.
IPI and Al Buldan dignitaries urged consumers to buy their original products from their partner hypermarkets and supermarkets such as Lulu, Carrefour, Nesto, KM Trading, Grant, Talal and Safeer, as well as pharmacies like Life and DOCIB.
