The watchdog has launched a 'FakeMeds' advent calendar to draw attention to the different aspects of fake medicines currently available in the UK.

It is encouraging community pharmacists to join the campaign by using the #FakeMeds hashtag and promote its advent calendar, which will reveal a new piece of content – including tips about some of the most common falsified products in the UK market – every day until Christmas.

MHRA senior policy manager Lynda Scammell told C+D on Monday (December 5) that the watchdog also wants to help “legitimate pharmacies” by raising awareness of the distance-selling logo for online pharmacies and how to report counterfeits via its hotline.

“We [have] found that understanding of falsified medicines among the public is low, in terms of what the risks are and how to buy safely," Ms Scammell said. "The advent calendar is a light-hearted way to deliver a serious public health message."

“We would love pharmacies to get involved in the campaign by promoting the calendar over their own social media," Ms Scammell added.