Most of the 35,000 online pharmacies around the world operate illegally and may sell dangerous or ineffective drugs, according to the U.S. Trade Representative’s annual Notorious Markets report. It is said that there is a sex.
It found that 96% of online pharmacies were found to be violating the law, operating without a license and selling medicines without a prescription. An estimated 20 new illegal pharmacy websites are created every day around the world, according to the 2024 report released Wednesday.
“The health and safety concerns posed by counterfeit medicines are particularly concerning,” Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in a statement.
The report identified more than 30 online retailers involved in selling counterfeit products. These websites often imitate legitimate e-commerce platforms and falsely claim to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The report also named 19 countries as having concerns about counterfeit and pirated products.
Online pharmacies gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, when prescription drugs were in high demand and many patients may have been confined to their homes. On the other hand, brick-and-mortar pharmacies close the door At least 7,000 pharmacies have closed across the United States since 2019, the Associated Press reported, citing data from the University of Pittsburgh.
In October, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both issued public safety alerts regarding illegal pharmacy websites selling and shipping counterfeit pills to patients who believe they are purchasing genuine medications.
Last year, the F.D.A. A warning has been issued Several online pharmacies selling suspected counterfeit products have requested that the websites stop selling the products.