Lives ‘put at risk’ by growing counterfeit drug trade
The proliferation of counterfeit drugs on the global market and easy availability via online pharmacies is an increasing problem. The makers of counterfeit drugs have enjoyed and profited from loopholes in a system designed to deliver healthy medicines to those in need. The rising cost of prescription medications and the ubiquitous presence of online and overseas pharmacies means more people than ever are threatened by these counterfeiting operations.
The lives of Britons are being put at risk by the multi-million pound trade in counterfeit drugs, a leading industry investigator warns today.
Graham Satchwell, a former director of security at GlaxoSmithKline, the drugs giant, said it was "likely" that British fatalities had already been caused by bogus medication imported into the country or bought over the internet.
By Kate Devlin
7 April 2008