In recent years, there has been an increase of websites illegally offering medicines for sale via the Internet. In a recent enquiry issued by the European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines (EAASM) has proved 62% of medicines bought through the Internet are counterfeit medicines or medicines that do not comply with the minimum quality requirements for medicines. Moreover, their appearance may induce a non expert users to believe they are original or medicines suitable for them to use.

Until recent years, counterfeit medicine trade had been focused on developing countries. However, currently, due to sale over the Internet, there has been an explosion of this practice in developed countries. In 2006 in customs of EU countries there was 384% increase in the number of illegal or counterfeit medicines seized.

Face to this phenomenon, the Ministry of Health advises citizenship that using prescription only medicines bought over the Internet may pose a risk for health, which may even lead to death, as these illegal or counterfeit medicines do not comply with minimum requirements for security, efficacy and quality.

Citizens should bear in mind that:

- Illegal or counterfeit medicines are potentially fatal because they frequently contain non suitable components, sometimes toxics, or active principle’s dosage is not adequate or they lack it. On many occasions, they are manufactured in illegal facilities without minimum hygienic conditions.

- In Spain the sale of prescription only medicines over the Internet is illegal. For this reason, websites offering a house delivery of purchased medicines are undertaking an illegal activity.

- The use of prescription only medicines without the care and supervision of suitably qualified healthcare professionals may result in potential side effects, interactions with other medicines and on safe dosages.

- In Spain medicines are subject to assessment and record procedures before they are sold by health authorities to ensure quality, efficacy, and security. The purchase of medicines through pharmacies is a guarantee for citizens these medicines are authentic, ensuring an appropriate storage and adequate use is guaranteed through the necessary information.

- On many occasions information contained in these websites selling medicines illegally is incomplete or biased as only alleged benefits of these medicines are mentioned, witnesses are false, and potential adverse effects are not mentioned. Users are therefore not aware on risks for health that may pose taking these medicines. 

- In these websites contact address of the person responsible is not mentioned; therefore, it is very difficult to identify responsibilities in cases of fraud or health problems derived from the use of medicines bought over these websites.

- Apart from the risks for health, personal data and bank details may be illicitly used.


For that reason, the Ministry of Health recommends citizens not to buy medicines over the Internet.

If in any doubt concerning illegal or counterfeit medicines, please contact us:
alertesfarmacia@gencat.cat.