Death on the Net? Over 60% of Medicines Sold by Online Pharmacies are Fake
Posted on June 5, 2008
Filed Under eCommerce
The in-depth report examining internet pharmacies and life-saving medicines
purchased online was presented today by the EAASM at the 4th Global Forum
on Pharmaceutical AntiCounterfeiting(TM) in Washington DC.
WASHINGTON, June 5 /PRNewswire/ — The European Alliance for Access to
Safe Medicines (EAASM) has today unveiled its comprehensive research report
– The Counterfeiting Superhighway. The report revealed that a frightening
62% of medicines purchased online are fake or substandard. These include
medicines indicated to treat serious conditions such as cardiovascular and
respiratory disease, neurological disorders, and mental health conditions.
The rapid growth of illegal online pharmacies means there is a higher
risk that fake medicines will reach patients. Untrained, unsuspecting
consumers are extremely vulnerable to the potentially lethal outcomes of
buying medicines online. The Counterfeiting Superhighway report reveals the
scope and repercussions of this growing, dangerous practice through
extensive research and examination.
Following in-depth analysis of over one hundred online pharmacies,
commonly purchased prescription-only medicines were ordered online(1). All
medicines were delivered without requiring the sight of a prescription.
This is illegal and presents a serious threat to public health. Expert
visual and chemical analysis of the prescription-only medicines purchased
online compounded the desk research findings.
* 95.6% of online pharmacies researched are operating illegally.
* 94% of websites do not have a named, verifiable pharmacist.
* Over 90% of websites supply prescription-only medicines without a
prescription.
* 86% of online ‘pharmacy approval’ stamps are fake.
The report demonstrates that there is a three in five chance of
receiving a fake or substandard medicine when you buy online. Whilst only
38% of the medicines received were found to be genuine branded medicines,
16% of these were illegal non-EU imports (genuine products, imported into
the EU illegally from a non-EU country), and 33% did not have patient
information leaflets, which in itself is also illegal and potentially
dangerous to consumers’ health.
Shockingly, on a number of occasions, the life-saving cardiovascular
medicine ‘Plavix’ was supplied with free ‘Viagra’ (or products purporting
to be these medicines). Anyone who is taking medicines for a serious heart
condition should be under close medical supervision, especially when taking
a cocktail of drugs for other conditions, including erectile dysfunction.
Dr Ian Banks, President, European Men’s Health Forum: “I was alarmed to
see that a number of the ‘medicines’ delivered were accompanied by free,
unsolicited tablets, provided without any medical assessment. Far from
rewarding consumers with ‘bonus pills,’ this practice shows that these
unscrupulous, criminal online drug traders appear wiling to potentially
risk the health and well-being of their customers.”
Among a number of recommendations the report suggests that popular
search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN should remove web pages from
search results which advertise counterfeit medicines. This tactic has
already proved successful in preventing people accessing child pornography
websites so surely similar success can be achieved with combating illegal
online pharmacies.
Jim Thomson, EAASM Chair: “The report findings are shocking and the
story it tells demands action. Consumers are susceptible to fake medicines
which could harm their health, and in extreme cases be deadly. The EAASM
calls on all stakeholders including search engines, credit card companies,
shipping companies, patient groups and regulators, to take action and halt
this dangerous trend.”
About the EAASM
The European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines (EAASM) was founded
in 2007 and is an independent, cross-sector voice representing European
patients’ rights to access safe medicines. The Alliance acts to raise
awareness of the risks of counterfeit and substandard medicine to patient
safety, address the shortcomings of current legislation and enforcement,
and campaign for greater protection for European patients. Website:
http://www.eaasm.eu
Notes to editor
The press release only provides some of the horrifying results of the
research. The full report is available for download on http://www.eaasm.eu
(currently available in English only).
(1) List of products purchased online
Cardiovascular and respiratory: Lipitor (Pfizer), Plavix (sanofi-
aventis), Seretide (GSK), Coversyl (Servier), Micardis (Boehringer-
Ingelheim), Spiriva (Boehringer-Ingelheim)
Mental Health: Zyprexa (Lilly), Efexor (Wyeth), Risperdal (J&J)
Alzheimer’s disease: Aricept (Pfizer), Reminyl (Shire)
Men’s health: Cialis (Lilly), Levitra (Bayer-Schering), Viagra
(Pfizer), Propecia (MSD)
Other: Zoton (Wyeth), Reductil (Abbott), Mirapex (Boehringer-Ingelheim
SOURCE The European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines
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