An operation carried out in the provinces of Azuay and Cañar led to the discovery of more than 17,000 units of allegedly counterfeit medications in the city of Cuenca.
The bulk of the findings came from a drug distributor in Cuenca, where 17,160 units out of a total of 17,320 inspected were flagged as potentially counterfeit.
The operation followed a health alert warning about the alleged production of counterfeit medicines in a clandestine laboratory in Guayaquil. The products were believed to have been distributed to pharmacies and suppliers across both provinces.
As part of the effort, authorities inspected 30 establishments. This included 29 pharmacies in the La Troncal canton in Cañar province, where 60 medications were seized from one location, along with the distributor in Cuenca.
All identified products were seized after evidence showed they did not comply with current health regulations. The goal is to prevent potential risks to public health.
Authorities say inspections are being prioritized in response to health alerts, with a focus on identifying affected products and strengthening monitoring and response efforts.