Unregulated internet pharmacies are posing a high risk to patients, according to the United Nation’s International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).
In its 2006 annual report titled ‘Internationally controlled drugs and the unregulated market’ the board warns that the risks involved in buying a medicinal product through an illegal internet pharmacy are high and websites facilitating access to prescribed drugs are a matter of increasing concern.
The report quotes a survey undertaken by the National Centre on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, New York. It found that, out of 185 internet pharmacies studied, only 3% indicated that they would request to speak with the patients’ doctors and 8% said they would accept faxed prescriptions, whereas 84% would freely sell benzodiazepines (minor tranquilisers) and 68% would freely sell opioids (morphine-like pain relief).
INCB’s president, Philip Emafo, said: “Activities of the unregulated market expose patients to serious health risks through the delivery of often poorly documented, unsafe, ineffective or low quality medicines. Moreover, gains over the past years in international drug control may be seriously undermined by this ominous development, if it remains unchecked.
“In an age where technological developments are being used for sinister purposes, persons engaged in drug law enforcement and drug regulation need to be better trained and equipped. We should deploy our expertise for the good of all by cooperating and collaborating better, while guarding our mandates.”
The report recognises that properly regulated internet pharmacies serve a ‘useful purpose’, but expresses concerns that some illegal drugs being posted from unregulated pharmacies.
It explains that in 2003, the US intercepted 1153 imported parcels containing medical products and found that 88% of them contained illegal prescription-only drugs, including narcotic drugs.
Warning patients of the risks of using internet pharmacies, it says: “The risks involved in buying a medicinal product through an illegal internet pharmacy are high: the medicinal product may be marketed on a website using incorrect or fraudulent health claims; the medicinal product may be issued without a valid prescription or the proper supervision of a pharmacist or medical professional.
“Furthermore, the product may be counterfeit or of substandard quality or the expiration date of the product may have elapsed; the price of the medicinal product may be higher than in legal pharmacies; and the buyer’s privacy or the security of the buyer’s credit card or medical data may be compromised.”
The report also warns patients of hidden costs, such as fees for consultations with ‘cyberdoctors’, and handling and packaging fees.
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