Most on-line pharmacies are run illegally and may very well be promoting harmful or ineffective medication, U.S. warns
Many of the 35,000 on-line pharmacies all over the world are working illegally and may very well be promoting harmful or ineffective medication, in keeping with the U.S. Commerce Consultant’s annual “infamous markets” report.
Ninety-six p.c of on-line pharmacies had been discovered to be in violation of the regulation, which means they had been working and not using a license and promoting drugs with out prescriptions. An estimated 20 new unlawful pharmacy web sites are created daily all over the world, in keeping with the 2024 report launched Wednesday.
“The well being and security issues posed by counterfeit medicines are significantly troubling,” Commerce Consultant Katherine Tai stated in an announcement.
Over 30 on-line retailers had been recognized within the report recognized as engaged in promoting counterfeit merchandise. The web sites typically mimic professional e-commerce platforms, with false claims that they’re authorized by the Meals and Drug Administration. The report compiled additionally singled out 19 international locations over issues about counterfeit or pirated merchandise.
On-line pharmacies gained traction through the COVID-19 pandemic when the demand for prescription drugs was excessive and plenty of sufferers might have been confined to their houses. In the meantime, bodily pharmacies are shutting their doorways and throughout the U.S., at the very least 7,000 pharmacies have closed since 2019, The Related Press reported, citing knowledge from the College of Pittsburgh.
In October, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Heart for Illness Management and Prevention each issued a public security warning about unlawful pharmacy web sites promoting and delivery counterfeit drugs to sufferers who imagine they’re buying actual pharmaceutical medication.
Final 12 months, the FDA issued warnings to a number of on-line pharmacies promoting suspected counterfeit merchandise, demanding that the web sites cease promoting the merchandise.