Pharmaceutical Online

In an interview, Gisela Weiser, an expert from the UN Narcotics Control Board, answered questions about a global survey that her office has been undertaking sincce 2004. The survey assesses how different countries are dealing with illegal online pharma.

Which countries are producing most of the drugs?
Legally, there are a number of large manufacturers in Europe (Germany, France, UK, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, etc) the United States, Canada, India, China and a number more. It really depends on the substance. Illegally, it is more difficult to say but there were indications for countries in Asia but also in Central America.

Which countries host the majority of illegal pharmacies?
This is impossible to say as they tend to shift. Illegal Internet pharmacies are opened and then relocated to avoid detection. For a number of years, there were quite a few in the U.S., the Caribbean, but also in Asia. When the U.S. tightened control they relocated.
Which countries are buying a significant amount of drugs through online pharma?
Legal Internet pharmacy business is frequent in North America, Europe and Australia.  But illegal sales are worldwide, although North America and Europe carry a large part.

Which are the most popular counterfeit drugs sold over online illegal pharmacies?
You have in principle three categories: lifestyle drugs (viagra), drugs abused (narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances) and pharmaceuticals whenever there is a strong demand and shortage in supply.

Which countries have made significant improvements in terms of regulations and measures to control illegal online pharmacies?
The United States and a number of European countries, in particular, the Netherlands and Belgium. But legal response is always slow because the process of getting new laws or amendments accepted is necessarily time consuming.

What are the different measures countries are implementing to tackle this problem?
There are very different approaches. Most countries will not have specific Internet legislation but consider that their national legislation concerning controlled substances will suffice to respond to the problem. Some countries have prohibited all sales of controlled substances through the Internet.  Others oblige Internet service providers to shut down illegal Internet pharmacies and others prohibit the use of mail for controlled substances.