Inspection squads sent out to prevent fake medicine scams

Medical inspectors have visited flood-hit areas of Hunan and Hubei to stop fake or inferior medicines being handed out to victims.

The State Bureau of Pharmaceutical Supervision and Management said inspection teams were needed because during past disasters when medicines were lacking, there had been cases of criminals selling fake medicine or medicine of inferior quality.

Bureau director Zheng Xiaoyu issued an urgent notice to all pharmaceutical authorities calling for extra vigilance against the flow of fake and substandard medicine to the flood-hit areas.

'Those who produce and sell these medicines will be severely dealt with,' Mr Zheng said.

A telephone hotline has been set up for people to call if they think fake medicine is being handed out. So far no such reports have been received.

Meanwhile, the State Development Planning Commission issued an urgent circular to relevant departments across the country urging them to stabilise prices during the crisis period.