Like mushrooms, online pharmacies are springing up every day on the Internet, a phenomenon that until recently was only observed abroad.
However, Greek pharmacists and Internet users are now proceeding with the creation of online stores with medicines, food supplements, hygiene items and cosmetics. It's basically a new fad that's sweeping cyberspace for those who shop online in hopes of securing better prices.
Out of control
However, the problem is focused on the large gap that exists in the institutional framework, as today no one can control exactly what is being sold, what the quality is, but also the origin of various preparations. Despite the fact that the sale of even non-prescription drugs is theoretically prohibited (non-prescription drugs), there are not a few cases where one can find normal pharmaceutical preparations and indeed at a discount.
As the president of the General Pharmaceutical Companies Association, Vassilis Seretis, explains: "Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should not be sold in online pharmacies because first of all they also have a coupon, just like prescription drugs. Also, the entire legislative framework describes them as preparations that must only be given by a pharmacist".
One step back
But the evolution of technology seems to have far outstripped national laws. The economic crisis creates additional fears that there will be an even greater shift of citizens to drugs of dubious origin and quality due to their lower price. This phenomenon can have dangerous dimensions for public health, as serious side effects have already been recorded abroad.
Official health bodies, such as the EOF, have issued warning notices for young people especially, since they are more and better at handling the Internet.
Counterfeit preparations
The problem centers on the fact that many drugs traded on the Internet are counterfeit. Based on estimates, at least 50% of the preparations circulating on the global electronic web are fake or falsified and of course not approved by the authorities, while many are also of unknown origin.
Based on the calculations of the competent European authorities, approximately 2%-3% of the medicines generally traded in the EU. they are fake, while they are estimated to come from India and African countries. In Greece, it seems that the rate is currently limited to 1%, but there is strong concern that it will soon increase, as more and more people are buying on the Internet preparations intended mainly for weight loss and erectile dysfunction, and nutritional supplements are also high on the list.
Huge turnover
However, the EU institutions appear weak in the face of this globalized trade phenomenon. Despite the directives they issued to the member states, they have not managed to stop the dangerous market of "electronic" drugs. It is even estimated that the funds of the electronic distribution of medicines exceed 10 billion euros per year.