While PSM applauds Google's
measures; unfortunately, this is only the first of many steps in the direction
of online pharmacy safety. Legislation is essential to legally prohibiting
financial transactions of unlicensed pharmacies and creating criminal penalties
for Web sites. Until Congress addresses this important issue, PSM continues to
encourage consumers to look for VIPPS accreditation of online pharmacies when
purchasing prescription drugs online.
2004
Because of Congressional
concerns over counterfeit drugs being sold by illegitimate online pharmacies,
the major online search engines select Pharmacy Checker.com to
verify the validity of online pharmacies as a result of Congress' concern over
counterfeit drugs being sold by illegitimate online pharmacies.
2005
A FDA operation reveals many drugs promoted online as
"Canadian" are counterfeit and actually originate from other countries.
2006
To protect American from
counterfeit drugs, the FDA announces new measures that emphasize certain
regulatory actions and the use of new technologies for safeguarding the
integrity of the U.S.
drug supply.
FDA warns consumers not to buy or use prescription drugs from
various Canadian Web sites that apparently sell counterfeit products.
2007
FDA warns consumers about
counterfeit drugs from multiple Internet sellers.
2008
Ryan
Haight Online Consumer Protection Act of 2008 passes in Congress, banning
online pharmacies from the sale of controlled substances based on online
patient consultations.
2009
PSM Board Member Bryan A. Liang discusses problems with PharmacyChecker.com
in the article "Searching for Safety: Addressing Search Engine, Website, and
Provider Accountability for Illicit Online Drug Sales."
Report
from LegitScript and KnujOn found that 80 to 90 percent of search
engine-sponsored advertisements of online drug pharmacies (verified by
PharmacyChecker.com) violate federal and state laws.
PSM
scrutinizes Google, Yahoo, and Bing for supporting illegal online drug
sales.
2010
Google announces updated U.S.
and Canada
pharmacy policy and removes PharmacyChecker.com as a certifying authority for
online pharmacies.
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