Fake, counterfeit drugs are placebos, toxic and iatrogenic.

There are contraband unregistered drugs. Pharmacists are nabbed for dispensing them. These drugs are quality controlled and registered in their country of origin.

In the history of drug registration here, all new drugs are smuggled in without local quality testing and registration to supply prescription requirements. All these are later legally imported by registered local drug importers, after going through local quality testing and registration, when they perceive their prescription potential.

Some of the famous brand drugs in pharmacology and pharmacy like Lyrica, Proscar, Viagra, Cialis, Diamicron, Avodart made their debut in Sri Lanka as covertly smuggled unregistered drugs, which lived up to the therapeutic expectations of both doctors and patients.

The latest antiadiabetic drug sitagliptin is prescribed although it has not got local registration. Its sequel, vildagliptin will follow in due course.

There are drugs that enter dispensing circulation when they are still in the process of registration.