Government must target deadly trade

FOLLOWING an Irish Examiner investigation into medical drug sales, delegates at an international conference yesterday heard alarming evidence that organised crime gangs are running a multi-billion-euro business in bogus medicines.

Our exposé revealed that patients are trawling the internet looking for cheap drugs. And it found they can get almost anything they want, with no questions asked.

Regrettably, it is relatively easy to get around the law in a clandestine trade where 10% of prescription drugs on the global market are counterfeit and worth €35 billion.

This underlines the urgent need for the relevant authorities to heed calls from the Irish Patients’ Association for greater co-operation between government, the public, the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare professionals, the gardaí, customs, distributors, and patients’ organisations.

It is imperative for the Government to take whatever action is needed to clamp down on this illicit and potentially deadly trade.