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Weekly Update |
March 1, 2010 |
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European Counterfeit Drug Market Worth more than $14 Billion
At the Partnership for Safe
Medicines (PSM), we've long cautioned consumers about the dangers of
counterfeit drugs-a growing issue affecting all corners of the globe.
Now, the
Pfizer-commissioned study, "Cracking Counterfeit Europe," has estimated that the
counterfeit medicines market in Europe is
worth more than $14 billion.
The investigation, which
covered 14 European countries, comes weeks after the vice president of the
European Commission announced that 34 million illicit tablets had been seized on European borders
in a mere two months. This follows a seven-fold increase in the quantity of illicit medicines
seized at EU borders over two years.
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Pfizer's new research indicated
that 21 percent of those surveyed admitted to buying prescription-only
medicines from illicit sources, suggesting that "millions are turning to
the internet to buy medicines that should be prescribed by a healthcare
professional." Not surprising, however, were the reasons why: to save time and money.
PSM board member Bryan
Liang, PhD, MD, JD said the study was yet another wake-up call to the
gravity of the counterfeit drug problem, particularly on the Web.
"It's impossible to
ignore the growing trends in the counterfeit drug arena, especially where the
Internet is concerned," said Liang. "It's imperative that we take
steps to limit the sale and distribution of illicit medicines. That includes
mandatory accreditation of online pharmacies through a verification program
like VIPPS, and new
legislation that creates substantive penalties for anyone who has a hand in the
manufacturing, sale or distribution of counterfeit drugs."
Pfizer Medical Director Dr.
David Gillen urged the need for greater public awareness and education on
counterfeit drugs and online drug purchasing saying, "People are not only
unaware of the very real dangers of counterfeit medicines, but also that
they're fueling an illegal and harmful criminal market."
Of course, education and
public awareness about counterfeit drugs is the cornerstone of PSM. But we
can't do it alone. We'd like for you to add your voices to the effort.
You can do so by:
- Posting the PSM's whitepapers,
fact sheets and blog posts to your social networks to let others know
of this public health issue
- Joining the conversation about counterfeit drugs on
PSM's Facebook and Twitter pages
- Talking to your employer or association about becoming
a member of PSM, and participating in or sponsoring a PSM event
- Writing a letter to your elected officials calling for
measures to protect Americans from counterfeit drugs
We encourage you to learn more about Pfizer's European study, and take a
look at our Safe Savings handout to learn how you can save money on safe,
legitimate prescription drugs. We also encourage you to sign up for the Safe
Medicines email alert system, which will notify any subscriber when a
government warning on counterfeits is released.
When it comes to health,
it's critical that we are aware of the dangers of counterfeit drugs. As the
last barriers to harm, PSM encourages patients to stay informed to protect
their loved ones and themselves against the criminal elements who sell these
fakes.
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Top News
UK: Study shows Alarming Trend Toward Buying
Drugs on the Internet
A Cracking
Counterfeit Europe report surveyed the general public and doctors across 14
European countries. The report revealed that 15% of UK adults surveyed admitted buying
prescription drugs from the internet rather than visiting their doctor. The
British Medical Association (BMA) warned this could lead to medical harm. Tests
at a laboratory in Sandwich revealed that some
counterfeit drugs had rat poison, boric acid and lead paint in them. ("Kent Laboratory
Finds Growing Counterfeit Drugs Market," BBC, February 17, 2010; Story here)
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World News
United States: Google's Restrictions for Online
Pharmacies go into Effect
Beginning
this month, Google will only accept ads from online pharmacies in the USA that have
accreditation under the National Association Boards of Pharmacy's Verified
Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS). US consumer advocacy group the
Partnership for Safe Medicines welcomed Google's move, but said it also wants
additional measures put in place, such as legislation to prohibit financial
transactions for drug sales of unlicensed online pharmacies and the creation of
substantive criminal penalties for any party, including Web sites and search
engines, which engage in the trade in counterfeit medicines. ("Google Toughens
up on Online Pharmacies," Securing Pharma, February 17, 2010; Story here)
Syria: Counterfeit Drugs Common
Throughout the Middle East
A recent
counterfeit drug bust in Syria,
which included the seizure of equipment used to make and package fake drugs,
stopped one ring's lucrative trade of counterfeits to Iraq, Turkey,
Lebanon, Iran and Egypt, according to
pharmaceutical-company managers. Authorities claim that the ring busted in Syria was the
main one operating in that country. A pharmaceutical-company manager said it
was the main network for Egypt
as well, but others are still operating in other Middle-Eastern countries. ("No
Cure For Fake Drugs," Wall Street Journal, February 15, 2010; Story
here)
Kenya: Counterfeits Dominate Market for
Malaria Drugs
Initial
results of a study carried out in 10 African countries indicate that in some
cases, up to 40 percent of the drugs could be substandard. The results released
by the World Health Organization on Monday showed that most of the medicines in
Uganda
failed quality standards tests. Results from the other countries surveyed, Cameroon, Ethiopia,
Ghana, Kenya, Malawi,
Nigeria and Tanzania, have
not been released. ("Kenyans Yet to Know if Malaria Drugs are Safe," The
Nation, February 10, 2010; Story here)
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About the Partnership for Safe Medicines
The Partnership for Safe Medicines is a group of organizations and individuals that have policies, procedures, or programs to protect consumers from counterfeit or contraband medicines. For more information, please visit SafeMedicines.org.
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