Yesterday, in Washington DC, I spoke at the Fourth Global Forum on Pharmaceutical Anticounterfeiting. My talk was why we won’t see legalized drug importation after the November elections – regardless of who gets elected.
There are four basic reasons:
(1) It won’t save any money.
(2) The drugs being sent to U.S. customers from Canadian Internet. pharmacies are not “the same drugs Canadians get.”
(3) The state experience has been dismal and politically embarrassing.
(4) National Security concerns.
(For more detail on these points click here: www.drugwonks.com/blog_post/show/5011)
Adding fuel to the reality is a new report just made public at the conference, by the European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines (www.eaasm.eu). The title says it all, “The Counterfeiting Superhighway.”
The report reveals the scope of the unregulated trade of fake pharmaceuticals. Through extensive research and examination of over 100 online pharmacies and over 30 commonly purchased prescription-only medicines, the report makes one thing very clear – we’re not winning the battle.
Key findings from this report
• 62% of medicines purchased online are fake or substandard (including medicines indicated to treat serious conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory disease, neurological disorders, and mental health conditions).
• 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.
• 78.8 of websites violate intellectual property.
My favorite anecdote is the report’s example of an Internet pharmacy whose products came wrapped in pages from the Mumbai Daily News. The most frightening fact, though, is most of the fake medicines “were delivered in seemingly authentic boxes, accompanied by patient information leaflets in good condition and ostensibly trustworthy blister packs.”
The report concludes by providing recommendations based on the research findings and calls all stakeholders including search engines, credit card companies, shipping companies, patient groups and regulators, to take action and halt this dangerous trend.
Bravo.
The full report can be found at www.eaasm.eu/Media_Centre/News/The_Counterfeiting_Superhighway)
Drug importation is not on their list of solutions.
The take-away for U.S. electoral rhetoric is obvious – Senator McCain and Senator Obama cannot be for enhanced drug safety and for drug importation. It’s simply does not compute.
There are four basic reasons:
(1) It won’t save any money.
(2) The drugs being sent to U.S. customers from Canadian Internet. pharmacies are not “the same drugs Canadians get.”
(3) The state experience has been dismal and politically embarrassing.
(4) National Security concerns.
(For more detail on these points click here: www.drugwonks.com/blog_post/show/5011)
Adding fuel to the reality is a new report just made public at the conference, by the European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines (www.eaasm.eu). The title says it all, “The Counterfeiting Superhighway.”
The report reveals the scope of the unregulated trade of fake pharmaceuticals. Through extensive research and examination of over 100 online pharmacies and over 30 commonly purchased prescription-only medicines, the report makes one thing very clear – we’re not winning the battle.
Key findings from this report
• 62% of medicines purchased online are fake or substandard (including medicines indicated to treat serious conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory disease, neurological disorders, and mental health conditions).
• 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.
• 78.8 of websites violate intellectual property.
My favorite anecdote is the report’s example of an Internet pharmacy whose products came wrapped in pages from the Mumbai Daily News. The most frightening fact, though, is most of the fake medicines “were delivered in seemingly authentic boxes, accompanied by patient information leaflets in good condition and ostensibly trustworthy blister packs.”
The report concludes by providing recommendations based on the research findings and calls all stakeholders including search engines, credit card companies, shipping companies, patient groups and regulators, to take action and halt this dangerous trend.
Bravo.
The full report can be found at www.eaasm.eu/Media_Centre/News/The_Counterfeiting_Superhighway)
Drug importation is not on their list of solutions.
The take-away for U.S. electoral rhetoric is obvious – Senator McCain and Senator Obama cannot be for enhanced drug safety and for drug importation. It’s simply does not compute.
