Dramatic incidents in Austria have cast a spotlight on the dangerous trade in counterfeit medications. Three women experienced severe, life-threatening side effects after using weight-loss injections, with one patient requiring emergency treatment for acute hypoglycemia. The injections were reportedly obtained through unofficial channels. Instead of the intended medication, Ozempic, the syringes contained only insulin - a composition that can be highly dangerous for healthy individuals. Investigations in Germany and Austria are now targeting multiple suspects, including dealers and doctors allegedly involved in distributing and administering these counterfeit products. The networks span across national borders.

Counterfeit medications and treatment products pose a serious threat to consumer health. The fake weight-loss injections circulating in Germany and Austria demonstrate that counterfeit products often contain inferior or incorrect ingredients. The lack of quality control and frequently unhygienic production conditions of counterfeit items also heighten the risk of severe health consequences.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that ten percent of medications traded globally are counterfeit. Brand owners can help protect health and prevent economic damage by adopting reliable anti-counterfeiting measures.

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