Suspended Pharmacist Is Fined £3,000 For Illegal Sale And Supply Of Viagra

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Also Included In: Medical Malpractice / Litigation;  Erectile Dysfunction / Premature Ejaculation
Article Date: 30 Jul 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Hitendra Patel (41), a suspended pharmacist, of 2 St Mary's Copse, St Mary's Road, Worcester Park, Surrey KT4 7LA was fined £3,000 and given a confiscation order of over £200,000 at Kingston Crown Court on 25 July 2008 for illegally selling and supplying the erectile dysfunction medicine Viagra. The sentence follows a prosecution by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The case began in 2003. Mr Patel was illegally importing Viagra from Pakistan and selling it in the UK to then be sold onto the US market.

Mick Deats, Group Manager of Enforcement at the MHRA said, "The MHRA will take action against people illegally supplying medicines to the public and will strive to maintain the integrity of the supply chain."

Notes

1. Mr Patel pleaded guilty to two offences under medicines legislation in November 2007.

2. Mr Patel used Mr Shaan Hussain (30) of 20 Albert Road, Ealing, London to broker his deals. Mr Hussain was fined £1,000 on 11 January 2008. Mr Hussain pleaded guilty to one offence in November 2007.

3. The MHRA is the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe. No product is risk-free. Underpinning all our work lie robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits to patients and the public justify the risks. We keep watch over medicines and devices, and take any necessary action to protect the public promptly if there is a problem. We encourage everyone -the public and healthcare professionals as well as the industry - to tell us about any problems with a medicine or medical device, so that we can investigate and take any necessary action. http://www.mhra.gov.uk

4. If an individual is convicted of offences under the Medicines Act 1968, they can be sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Where appropriate the MHRA will use the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to determine whether or not benefits were accrued through criminal activity and will recoup illicit earnings if the individual is found guilty.

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency