In particular, fake online pharmacies apotheke-rezeptfrei.net, rezeptfrei-24.com, apothekeoesterreich.eu and top-apotheke.com have been reported to us many times recently. What they all have in common is that they specialize in prescription drugs such as particularly strong painkillers and sleeping pills, sexual enhancers or antidepressants. At the same time, these websites point out that everything is available without a prescription and the delivery process is quick and discreet. At the end of 2007, the Federal Criminal Police Office found that a large number of counterfeit medicines were reaching German consumers through the mail-order sale of medicines, in particular through illegal consignments from non-European countries. The Federal Criminal Police Office has requested the reinstatement of the ban on the mail-order sale of prescription medicines. However, the German Bundesrat is currently no longer concerned with the ban on the mail-order sale of prescription medicines, because the dangers of trading medicines on the Internet obviously outweigh the benefits. For example, the legislative proposal of the Free States of Saxony and Bavaria (“Bill on the Return of Mail Order Sales of Medicines to the Extent Required by European Law”) was withdrawn from the agenda in December 2008. In mid-March 2008, Federal Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück expressed concern about the rapid increase in the number of counterfeit medicines seized by German customs. [15] Counterfeit sexual reinforcing agents and doping substances, as well as other medicines, such as counterfeit heart medicines, have been particularly frequently used by customs investigators. These fakes are sometimes perfectly modeled on the original and can only be distinguished by laboratory analysis. The majority of drugs ordered on a trial basis from foreign drug shippers, especially so-called lifestyle drugs such as Viagra, turned out to be counterfeit.
[16] [17] Falsified medicines are not only of poor quality, they usually do not contain medicine, or too much or too little, and sometimes toxic substances that can threaten the health and life of the user. Some pharmacies, however, don`t have real places where you can come in and hand over your prescription and money to make a purchase. They can only be found online; Not all of them are registered pharmacies and sell drugs legally, so buying from them is potentially dangerous. If you have any doubts as to whether a supplier is a reputable supplier, you can also contact the Federal Association of German Mail Order Pharmacies (BVDVA): faelschermelden@bvdva.de. Further information can be found on the BVDVA homepage. The prosecution of illegal drug lists and websites is the responsibility of law enforcement. If you become aware of an alleged illegal supplier, you can report it to any police station or the Public Prosecutor`s Office. Further information can be found on the homepage of the Federal Criminal Police Office (FOC). Since 2004, German pharmacies have also been allowed to sell medicines via the Internet. “The prerequisite is a so-called mail order licence issued by the competent authority,” says Sellerberg.
Licensed pharmacies bear the EU safety logo. A click on the logo indicates if it is genuine: if the pharmacy is licensed, a DIMDI website opens with the entry in the mail order pharmacy register. A photo of the sign can be seen here on the right. A list of registered pharmacies can be found on the Internet at: www.dimdi.de “Of course, foreign pharmacies are not controlled by the German supervisory authorities,” says Sellerberg. So even in approved countries, you can`t be sure that everything is really fine with every shipper. Unfortunately, counterfeit medicines are an extremely lucrative business and therefore tempting for illegal suppliers. Again and again, illegal mail-order pharmacies on the Internet use the BfArM logo for misleading advertising purposes on their websites. The BfArM is taking consistent legal action against this misuse. Another feature that the aforementioned pharmacies, but also other fake pharmacies, have in common: the EU security logo is missing from the pages. However, all legal mail order pharmacies must prominently place this logo on their website. The logo consists of a security feature, the flag of an EU Member State (but also of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and the note “Click here to check the legality of this site” in the respective national language.
According to article 43 Abs. 1 S. 1 AMG in conjunction with Paragraph 11a ApoG, mail-order pharmacies may be operated only by pharmacies in Germany. The pharmacist in charge, postal address, supervisory authority and other information must be indicated on the legal notice of the website. All medicines shipped must be marketable medicines in Germany. For all prescription drugs, the original prescription must be mailed to the mail-order pharmacy. In addition, all mail-order pharmacies must have an emergency depot and participate in the Drug Safety Reporting System, as well as overnight and emergency service. Reputable online pharmacies have a fingerprint with a postal address, owner and competent supervisory authority. And there is a hotline on the website for advice and inquiries.
Mail order pharmacies are required to provide advice to the same extent as local pharmacies. Based on a Europe-wide survey, the BMGS has determined that safety standards comparable to German legislation currently exist in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom for mail order and e-commerce of medicines. In the Netherlands, this applies to the extent that mail-order pharmacies also have a retail pharmacy. Pharmacies from countries other than those mentioned above, in which such comparability does not currently exist, may apply for a mail-order licence for medicinal products under the Pharmacies Act. There are also network and mail order pharmacies that work with health insurance companies to handle larger drug orders and keep prices low for insurers. Express Scripts, Medco and Caremark (owned by CVS) are mail-order pharmacy companies. Buying them through your insurer is as safe as using your local pharmacy. These pharmacies can work very well if it is difficult for you to get to your local pharmacy. They`re also great if you like the convenience of renewing online or want to order several months of a medication you take regularly.
The World Health Organization estimates that about half of the medicines supplied by illegal shippers are counterfeit. “Those who buy counterfeit medicines are gambling with their health,” warns Sellerberg. After all, you never know what`s really in tablets and ampoules. You can almost call it luck when it comes to ineffective sugar pills. With bad luck, the substance is even toxic and causes serious damage to health. From 25 June, Austrian pharmacies will be allowed to sell over-the-counter medicines via the Internet. Until now, some foreign pharmacies in the European Economic Area (EEA) were allowed to dispense medicines to Austria without a prescription and medicines authorised or registered in Austria. Legal online shipment of over-the-counter medicines to Austria is only possible via pharmacies, but not via pharmacies or supermarkets.
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