Counterfeit medicine worth more than 10.5 billion Euros per year
A survey, commissioned by Pfizer and carried out by market researcher Nunwood, has estimated that the counterfeit medicines market in Europe is worth more than 10.5 billion Euros per year.
The analysis shows how one in five of the 14,000 people surveyed (in 14 European countries), equating to 77 million people in the total population, admitted to buying prescription-only medicines from illicit sources.
Almost half of the fake drugs bought on the net were weight-loss treatments, followed by prescription treatments for influenza and erectile dysfunction pills. According to the research, the main reasons people go online to access medicines is to save time and money, with nearly a third of those surveyed (33%) doing so because it is quick and convenient and 39% wanting to cut down on costs.
In the Netherlands counterfeit drugs has reached a scale of almost 80 million Euros. According to surveys, 10% of the Dutch has admitted to have bought medicine through illegal sources.
Pfizer calls it alarming that people buy medicine on the internet, while they should actually be prescribed by doctors.
Many thanks to Loubna Boufrach (Zorgverzekeraars Nederland) for sending in this article