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 17 May 2008 03:11 BST

Fears raised over internet drugs

Monday, 20 Aug 2007 11:38
Ordering drugs online may not always be safe

Health In Focus 

Some prescription drug sites are operating without proper credentials and are risking customers' health, a new report claims.

MarkMonitor's review of online drugs found that "increasingly sophisticated tactics" are being used by people to exploit well-known brands and then sell them on "dubious online pharmacies".

It says that of the 3,160 online pharmacies studied, only four are accredited as Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (Vipps).

Prices of drugs on non-accredited sites also raise questions over their worth; sampling of one drug showed an average of $10.85 (£5.40) for Vipps-accredited sites in contrast to an average price of $2.72 (£1.30) for non-accredited sites.

Ten per cent of pharmacies said no prescription is needed to purchase the drugs and more than half did not secure customer data.

"The data shows brandjackers are profoundly exploiting brands, using increasingly sophisticated tactics, and, in the case of the pharmaceutical industry, posing an outright danger to consumers through questionable practices that indicate counterfeiting and gray markets," said Irfan Salim, president and chief executive officer of MarkMonitor.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), with which all pharmacies must register, said there are a number of websites offering to sell medicines from suppliers who have no professional qualifications or healthcare expertise.

It is planning a scheme which will place a logo on approved websites allowing people to check the status of the pharmacy's registration.

"Patients considering purchasing medicines via the internet should be encouraged to verify the website is operated from a registered retail pharmacy," said Priya Sejpal, professional ethics pharmacist at the RPSGB.

"This is to ensure their medicines are obtained from a reputable source and accurate and appropriate advice in relation to their medicines is received."
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