by Tod Cooperman, MD, President, PharmacyChecker.com, and Gabriel Levitt, Vice President, PharmacyChecker.com | Jul 13, 2010 | Online Pharmacy Verification Services
The Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM), a front group for the pharmaceutical industry, recently published a piece in which its vice president, Bryan Liang, conducted an interview with the Inspectorate of General Health in the Netherlands Antilles on the topic of free trade zones and pharmaceuticals sold through them.
While Dr. Liang attempted to paint a sinister picture of pharmacies in free trade zones, noting a potential to “assist foreign and suspect online sellers,” the Inspectorate gave a most positive description of the one and only operation under his purview that has been approved by PharmacyChecker.com. He stated: (more…)
Tagged with: Brian Liang, international pharmacies, Kathleen Sebelius, Online Pharmacy Verification Services, Partnership for Safe Medicines, safemedicines
by Gabriel Levitt, President, PharmacyChecker.com and Prescription Justice | Jul 8, 2010 | Big Pharma
The LegitScript network of “approved” online pharmacies includes connections to rogue pharmacies, although this is something that LegitScript prefers not to disclose. In 2008, Cardinal Health, which has a number of LegitScript-approved Internet Pharmacies within its retail network, paid a settlement of $34 million to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for allegedly shipping controlled substances to illegitimate online pharmacies. According to then DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart:
“Cardinal’s negligent conduct contributed to our nation’s serious pharmaceutical abuse problem. This substantial civil penalty underscores DEA’s determination to prevent pharmaceutical diversion and protect the public health and safety by continuing to hold companies responsible if they fail to fulfill their obligations under the Controlled Substance Act.”
(more…)
Tagged with: Cardinal Health Network, controlled substances, Counterfeit Drugs, LegitScript, Online Pharmacies, Online Pharmacy Verification Services, pharmaceutical companies, rogue pharmacies
by Gabriel Levitt, President, PharmacyChecker.com and Prescription Justice | Jun 28, 2010 | Big Pharma
A new group called the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (www.safeonilnerx.com) is working to prevent access to safe and affordable online pharmacies (Also see our article about a deceptive news release published by this group). Its membership and “observers” include the usual pharmacy, pharma and pharma-front groups: American Pharmacists Association, Eli Lilly & Company, LegitScript.com, National Association of Chain Drugstores, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), National Health Council, and the Partnership for Safe Medicines.
The group’s stated mission is “to protect patient safety and ensure patient access to safe and legitimate online pharmacies in accordance with U.S. laws.” The unstated premise is that since it is technically illegal for Americans to personally import medication from abroad, only U.S. pharmacies (i.e., those that are members of its own member organizations) are in accordance with U.S. laws. (more…)
Tagged with: Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies, LegitScript.com, NABP, Online Pharmacies, Online Pharmacy Verification Services, personal drug importation, SafeMedicines.org, safeonlinerx.com
