Berlin Pharmacists Battle Rise in Counterfeit Oncology Prescriptions
Berlin pharmacies have been grappling with an increase in counterfeit oncology prescriptions from Vivantes MVZ Klinikum Am Urban over the past three weeks. The forgeries, involving the same doctor's name and targeting high-priced cancer drugs like Lonsurf and Mektovi, have raised alarm bells among pharmacists.
Dr. Axel Rösler, business manager at Vivantes MVZ, confirmed the rise in prescription forgeries. The fraudulent prescriptions, all for oncological medications, bear false addresses, invented identification numbers, and incomplete information. To date, eight such cases have been reported, all following a similar pattern.
Pharmacists have been left without a central warning system to alert them to such forgeries in a timely manner. A pharmacist in Hannover recently foiled an attempt to obtain Alecensa, a costly cancer medication, using a cash prescription. The pharmacist, suspicious due to an unclear caller and unusually large package, detained the suspect until police arrived. The incident highlights the need for vigilance among pharmacists, who are now being urged to detain suspected forgers until police can intervene.
The police and the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians have been informed about the prescription forgeries. With no specific person identified as responsible, pharmacists remain on high alert. The targeting of expensive cancer medications, previously not a common tactic among prescription forgers, underscores the importance of pharmacists' vigilance in preventing such fraud.
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