Parties with injections and strengthening cocktails in homes, injectable pharmaceutical preparations in places where there should be no and used and "treatments" that are advertised uncontrollably.
The Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health are constantly vigilant with the complaints even concerning private gatherings with the participation of mainly young women, in terms of aesthetic acts and men in terms of "strengthening" practices of the body.
During the checks, preparations are found which are then confiscated by the Police, however, at the moment when the competent authorities try to put a brake on the phenomenon, they are faced with legislative restrictions, but also with witnesses who, although located, refuse or hesitate to testify, making it difficult to establish the cases.
The director of the Pharmaceutical Services, Elena Panagiotopoulou, described to "F" what the controls reveal, how the raids are organized with the assistance of the Police and why some cases never reach the Court.
She recalled that since the beginning of September, the Pharmaceutical Services had issued a statement with strict recommendations, following the detection of injectable preparations of hormones, peptides and other substances, in places that did not hold the necessary licenses, noting that the announcements at the time were the result of complaints that reached the Pharmaceutical Services, which brought specific, unqualified people to administer injectable drugs to citizens for wellness purposes, strengthening the body and other aesthetic reasons.
"In the recent past we have had complaints about the organization of botox parties in homes. For the most part, the participants were young girls," said Ms. Panagiotopoulou, explaining that some of these cases have been forwarded to the Police, but their investigation does not always end up before the Justice.
The biggest problem, as she explained, is securing the necessary testimony to substantiate the cases.
"Many times, while we identify people who could testify so that the Police can substantiate a case, these people refuse or hesitate to testify. As a result, the work of the prosecuting authorities is significantly more difficult afterwards."
Reference was also made to pharmaceutical services for gatherings, mainly of men, in various private premises, with the aim of simultaneously administering, as entertainment, intravenous cocktails of vitamins and other preparations for the alleged strengthening of the body or the strengthening of the immune system.
The information, however, is not always clear "so that the intervention of the competent authorities is not possible".
"The Police are always by our side and provide us with all the necessary help and support."
Injectable preparations in places where there should be none
The complaints that reach the Pharmaceutical Services mainly concern various professional areas, which advertise services of aesthetics, wellness, anti-aging or other interventions with the use of pharmaceutical substances.
According to Ms. Panagiotopoulou, the inspectors of the Pharmaceutical Services "carry out checks and have been located in places where there should normally be no various pharmaceutical preparations, injectables and more. These preparations are then confiscated by the Police, which is the competent Authority."
The director of Pharmaceutical Services also referred to the advertisements identified, through which various persons promote services using such products, even in places that are not pharmacies or medical centers or clinics operated by registered doctors.
As she explained, the promotion of unapproved pharmaceutical products and injectable "treatments" via the internet, social media and other unauthorized places is of particular concern.
These include products advertised for anti-aging, weight loss, muscle growth, recovery and general improvement of health and appearance. Among the substances promoted are various peptides, hormonal analogues and other substances with pharmacological action.
Ms. Panagiotopoulou pointed out that such products may even be traded through gyms, beauty salons, hairdressers and other places that are not authorized to have pharmaceutical preparations.
A complaint and police escort are needed
"The issue is one of our priorities. However, in order for an inspection to be carried out in a specific institute or other place, there must be a complaint beforehand. There is a specific protocol on which we are moving. That is, we must receive a complaint and then proceed with an inspection accompanied by the Police."
These restrictions, according to the director of Pharmaceutical Services, make it necessary to revise the legislative framework, so that the competent services have the appropriate tools to deal with modern practices of distribution and administration of pharmaceutical products.
"The Pharmaceutical Services have an inspection department and our inspectors carry out inspections, however our capabilities are limited. Legislation must be introduced that covers all these issues as a whole. The needs of the time require it. At the moment, the legislation allows us to proceed with the suspension of the operation of a business, only if it is a pharmacy."
Risks of unapproved formulations
Ms. Panagiotopoulou draws particular attention to the risks posed by the use of unapproved pharmaceutical products, especially when it comes to injectable or intravenous preparations.
As she explained, presenting a product as "natural", as a "dietary supplement" or as a vitamin, does not mean that it is legal or safe for human use or that anyone can administer it and even intravenously in a suitable place.
Unapproved formulations may contain unknown substances, a different amount of active substance than that indicated on their packaging, or even contain no declared active substance at all.
Especially in the case of injectable products, failure to comply with the required production, storage and distribution specifications may lead to contamination, infections, toxic reactions and other serious complications.
The distribution of such products online or by unauthorized persons creates additional risks, as, as she stressed, "their origin, quality, safety and storage conditions are not ensured, among other things".
"The citizen must keep an eye open"
The director of Pharmaceutical Services also called on citizens to be especially careful when they are offered treatments with injectables or other pharmaceutical preparations, especially when they are offered outside legal and properly licensed premises and by unqualified people.
As she underlined, "we as a Service are making a great effort and we will continue to do so within the framework of our responsibilities. But we also need the cooperation of citizens who at the same time should not be seduced by advertisements that promise rapid weight loss, anti-aging, muscle growth or spectacular improvement in health and appearance, without first ensuring that the products used are approved and administered by properly authorized professionals."
"The supply of pharmaceutical products from unauthorized sources should be avoided and the citizen should contact a doctor or pharmacist for appropriate information."
