This Medical Product Alert warns consumers healthcare professionals and health authorities against a growing number of falsified medical products that claim to prevent detect treat or cure COVID 19 The Coronavirus disease COVID 19 pandemic caused by the virus SARS CoV 2 has increased demand for medicines vaccines diagnostics and reagents all related to COVID 19 creating an opportunity for ill intended persons to distribute falsified medical products Due diligence is required from all actors in the procurement use and administration of medical products in particular those affected by the current crisis of or related to COVID 19 1 FALSIFIED IN VITRO DIAGNOSTICS AND LABORATORY REAGENTS WHO has received multiple reports regarding falsified in vitro diagnostics IVDs and laboratory reagents for the detection of SARS CoV 2 Please refer to WHO s Emergency Use Listing for a list of diagnostics approved for clinical use by WHO To date eight countries Australia Brazil Canada PR China Russian Federation Singapore Republic of Korea United States of America have listed IVDs for COVID 19 diagnosis based on expedited regulatory assessments Please note that in the European Union regulatory compliance for SARS CoV 2 diagnostics are self declared by the manufacturer To assist Member States and stakeholders WHO has published the links to these emergency lists together with contact details These links provide information on IVDs authorized for use in the jurisdictions of the International Medical Device Regulators Forum as well as policies and guidance WHO will provide updated versions as new information becomes available End users are encouraged to check the labelling against the information posted by regulatory authorities upon listing to ensure they are in possession of the genuine product This information might include product name product code expiry date instructions for use and manufacturer details Unregulated websites supplying medicines and or vaccines particularly those concealing their physical address or landline telephone number are frequently the source of unlicensed substandard and falsified medical products WHO has been made aware of various unregistered websites claiming that products on sale can treat or prevent COVID 19 Such products are likely to be falsified medicines In addition some websites may appear to provide easy access to legitimate medicines that are otherwise not readily available End buyers and consumers should be especially wary of such online scams and exert due diligence when purchasing any medical product whether online or not 2 FALSIFIED MEDICINES AND VACCINES At this stage WHO does not recommend any medicines to treat or cure COVID 19 However the SOLIDARITY trial led by WHO is reviewing potential treatments for COVID 19 WHO requests increased vigilance from national health authorities healthcare professionals members of the public and supply chain stakeholders worldwide to prevent the distribution of these falsified medical products Increased vigilance should focus on hospitals clinics health centres clinical laboratories wholesalers distributors pharmacies and any other suppliers of medical products All medical products must be obtained from authentic and reliable sources Their authenticity and condition of the product should be carefully checked Consumers are advised to seek advice from a healthcare professional in case of doubt National health authorities are requested to immediately notify WHO if these falsified products are discovered in their country If you have any information concerning the manufacture distribution or supply of these products please contact rapidalert who int WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System for Substandard and Falsified Medical ProductsFor further information please visit our website https www who int medicines regulation ssffc en