Pharmacists issue warning over 'e-pharmacy'

The Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU), which represents 1,400 community pharmacists across the country, has warned that it is likely that a growing numbers of Irish people are buying medicines over the internet.

A recent study by the UK National Audit Office suggested that as many as 600,000 Britons have bought prescription medicines over the internet.

While no figures are available in Ireland, the IPU said it expects that the numbers using so-called ‘e-pharmacy’ are likely to be rising.

The IPU has likened the process of buying medicines over the internet to Russian Roulette: " Medicines are potentially lethal products and great care is taken by pharmacists to ensure that the correct medicines in the correct doses are going to the correct patients.

“This is not the case with e-pharmacy, where potentially lethal medicines are routinely sold without any requirements for prescriptions.

“Without doubt, e-pharmacy will lead to tragedy."

According to the IPU, while e-pharmacy is technically illegal in Ireland, it is almost impossible to prevent it happening.

The organisation is therefore calling for the Department of Health and Children to launch an educational campaign to warn people of the risks associated with buying medicines on-line.

The danger of e-pharmacy is being increasingly accepted internationally. Drug giant Pfizer recently commenced a legal campaign against and online pharmacies selling fake Viagra.

Alongside the legal challenge from Pfizer goes a project to warn people about the dangers of fake pills.

In the United States, where e-pharmacy is common, there are reports of significant problems with regard to counterfeit medicines and illegal purchase.

Speaking today, President of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union Dr Karl Hilton said: "As a pharmacist and health-care professional my primary concern is patient safety.

“When a patient comes into my pharmacy with a prescription I have a duty of care to that patient to ensure that the medicine they expect is the medicine they get.

“I check their prescription for problems such as drug interactions, incorrect drug dosage and clinical abuse.

“In e-pharmacies this kind of face-to-face contact and professional monitoring of patients is impossible.

“This puts the patient in a very dangerous position.”