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Lack of regulation of online pharmacies is putting people at risk from fake medicines
The BBC reports that a lack of regulation of online pharmacies is putting people at risk from fake medicines, research suggests.
“Analysis of more than 3,000 sites found medicines for sale without a prescription and some that were likely to be counterfeit or out of date. Industry fraud advisers MarkMonitor also found half of the sites did not safeguard customer details. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is planning to roll out a logo scheme to help consumers identify genuine sites. But experts warned against buying medicines online.”
“The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), a watchdog which oversees the quality of medicines available in the UK, can only close down British-based sites which break the law, because it has does not have jurisdiction over those based abroad.”
This means that many website traders selling illegal, or poorly produced medicines, can easily supply the UK market, and there is nothing that can currently be done to stop this trade.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advises that “patients considering purchasing medicines via the internet should be encouraged to verify the website is operated from a registered retail pharmacy. This is to ensure their medicines are obtained from a reputable source and accurate and appropriate advice in relation to their medicines is received.”
MarkMonitor – Making the Internet Safe For Business
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