WHO Statistic on Online Counterfeit Drugs Often Misused
In speeches and writings about online pharmacies, many experts and professionals in the pharmaceutical and U.S. pharmacy industries cite data from the World Health Organization (WHO) claiming that 50% of drugs sold on the Internet are counterfeit. A recent example is an article published last week in US Pharmacist. This statistic is often offered as “evidence” that all online pharmacies, particularly outside the U.S., are dangerous. However, the WHO’s information is often misused and the statistic’s factual basis is questionable.
The actual WHO statistic is that in “50% of cases, medicines purchased over the Internet from illegal sites that conceal their physical address have been found to be counterfeit.” WHO goes onto qualify this statement, noting that “Some Internet pharmacies are legal operations, established to offer clients convenience and savings. They deliver medications from government-licensed facilities and sell only on the basis of a prescription.” This is a critical point which we have made many times on this blog, but is commonly omitted by those whose work is backed by the pharmaceutical and U.S. pharmacy industries. (more…)
