Medications-pacifiers, or what we are treated
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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As it turned out, Ukrainian citizens are offered treatment for viral diseases with drugs that do not contain the active substance and which is inherently a "dummy", an unexpected statement was made by the vice-president of the All-Ukrainian Council for the Protection of Patients' Rights, Evgeny Naishtetik.
According to E. Ništětika, the annual market volume of drugs registered by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine as medicines, but does not have an active substance in its composition, and therefore, about any medicinal properties can not be said, is about 300 million UAH . Only sales of one drug "Anaferon" - pacifiers, which is advertised as a full-fledged antiviral drug, and also recommended for children during the seasonal incidence - is about 84 million UAH per year. In general, sales of "empty" antiviral drugs reach 300 million UAH. All this was said at the round table meeting that took place on September 27. The vice-president also stated that the composition of such known antiviral agents as Engistol, Anaferon, Aflubin, Otsilokoktsinum does not contain a single atom of the active substance. According to the instructions, the preparation contains a certain substance in a diluted form. Judging by the concentration of dilution, the content of such a substance in the preparation is so insignificant that it reduces to almost zero. However, according to the commercials and posters, all these substances not only help to effectively combat viruses, but are also an excellent preventive tool. Doctors and pharmacists also recommend these drugs during the period of exacerbation of seasonal diseases.
Producers position their drugs as antiviral with a wide range of effects. In such homeopathic remedies, antiviral activity is achieved by increasing the defenses of the body, but in the scientific community it is not known how antibodies to interferon can help not only in treatment, but also in the prevention of viral diseases. The therapeutic effect of such drugs is usually determined by the placebo effect (ie, the therapeutic effect of the drug is directly related to the patient's strong belief that the medicine will help him). In addition, scientists can not explain the physiological mechanism claimed by manufacturers, according to which antibodies to human interferons have immunomodulatory effects. But still, the Ministry of Health registers these drugs as effective tools for the treatment of viral infections, hepatitis, etc., which, in fact, is a mass deception of consumers.
Also Evgeny Naishtetik noted that the total amount of government purchases of medicines is about 4 billion UAH, in particular 2 billion UAH. Are spent from state funds for the sale of centralized purchases that occur within the framework of the state program, and 2 billion UAH. Are taken from local budgets. In 2012, sales in pharmacies amounted to 31.6 billion UAH, with 90% - this is what people buy themselves, often under the influence of advertising slogans.
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