Many of the 35,000 on-line pharmacies world wide are working illegally and might be promoting harmful or ineffective medicine, in line with the U.S. Commerce Consultant’s annual “infamous markets” report.
Ninety-six % of on-line pharmacies have been discovered to be in violation of the legislation, which means they have been working with no license and promoting drugs with out prescriptions. An estimated 20 new unlawful pharmacy web sites are created every single day world wide, in line with the 2024 report launched Wednesday.
“The well being and security considerations posed by counterfeit medicines are significantly troubling,” Commerce Consultant Katherine Tai mentioned in a press release.Â
Over 30 on-line retailers have been recognized within the report recognized as engaged in promoting counterfeit merchandise. The web sites typically mimic respectable e-commerce platforms, with false claims that they’re accredited by the Meals and Drug Administration. The report compiled additionally singled out 19 international locations over considerations about counterfeit or pirated merchandise.Â
On-line pharmacies gained traction through the COVID-19 pandemic when the demand for prescription drugs was excessive and plenty of sufferers could have been confined to their properties. In the meantime, bodily pharmacies are shutting their doorways and throughout the U.S., at the least 7,000 pharmacies have closed since 2019, The Related Press reported, citing information from the College of Pittsburgh.Â
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 tablets to sufferers who consider they’re buying actual pharmaceutical medicine.Â
Final yr, the FDA issued warnings to a number of on-line pharmacies promoting suspected counterfeit merchandise, demanding that the web sites cease promoting the merchandise.Â
