The illegal trade in counterfeit medicines is flourishing like never before. Aided by partially hidden platforms on the internet, potentially deadly products are being flooded into the country.
The case involving counterfeit and therefore life-threatening weight-loss injections shows once again: medicines are not something to be trifled with. And yet the trade in – sometimes illegal – medicines has been through the roof for years. Already in the spring of this year, the “Krone” reported in detail about this dirty billion-dollar business. And warned about it.
A survey at the time showed that 40 percent of readers had already purchased medicines online.
Customs removes dozens of packages from circulation
But product pirates sail with a lot of tailwind, especially in the virtual space. And Austria is still considered a lucrative market: last year alone, local customs intercepted almost 11,700 shipments of medicines.
Specifically, there were 832,267 medicines that were counterfeit, available only by prescription, not approved for use in the EU or even banned. Insiders expect a further increase in the number of seizures this year. Also because controls in this area have recently been tightened. The number of unreported cases of ‘hot goods’ being smuggled into the country is likely to significantly reduce the number of seizures.
Pharmacists warn against buying online
With the known health risks. The Chamber of Pharmacists therefore warns against online purchases, and not only out of economic self-interest. Contamination or incorrect dosage can be fatal; at best the effect is nil.
“There is only one safe way: to the trusted pharmacy around the corner,” Raimund Podroschko, vice president of the pharmacy chamber, explains to the “Krone”.
Due to strict requirements, security checks and a close supply chain, gangs don’t stand a chance. “If something is out of stock, we do everything we can to make the product available. We usually produce it in our own laboratory, provided the necessary raw materials are available. 95 percent of cases can be solved on the spot,” says Podroschko.
By the way: Sexual enhancers are especially popular with Internet customers.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
