The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7379 p711
10 December 2005

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Pharmacists charged with medicines counterfeiting

Two pharmacists and a former pharmacist are among 11 people charged with medicines counterfeiting offences. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency described the 11 people as members of a global counterfeiting organisation.

Pharmacists Nayna Ashish Halai, of Elstree, Hertfordshire, and Hitendra Patel, of Worcester Park, Surrey, were both charged with offences under the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations etc) Regulations 1994, the Criminal Law Act 1977, the Medicines Act 1968 and the Trademarks Act 1994. In the case of Mr Patel the offences were in respect of Viagra. The charges against Mrs Halai related to Viagra and Cialis. Former pharmacist Rajendka Gulbachand Shah, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, was charged with the same offences in relation to Reductil and Cialis. Mr Shah was struck from the Register in 2002 for illegally selling Viagra to a newspaper reporter.

All 11 people appeared at Kingston Crown Court on 30 November. The case was adjourned until March 2006 for a plea and directions hearing.

The MHRA said that the case was related to the product recalls of Cialis (PJ, 28 August 2004, p277) and Reductil (PJ, 11 September 2004, p335) in 2004 and counterfeit Viagra.