FDA aims to raise awareness of rogue pharmacies

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has begun a campaign to educate patients and healthcare professionals about the risks of buying drugs online.

With one in four American internet consumers buying prescription drugs online the FDA is trying to raise awareness of pharmacies pedalling fake products. The campaign, called BeSafeRx, aims to help patients identify dodgy pharmacies.

“Fraudulent and illegal online pharmacies often offer deeply discounted products. If the low prices seem too good to be true, they probably are,” Margaret Hamburg, commissioner of the FDA, said.

As part of the campaign the FDA has created a four step checklist to help patients. Before using an online pharmacy the FDA recommends consumers check if it requires a prescription, has a US address, is licensed by the state and has a legitimate pharmacist to answer questions.

Pharmacies that fail to meet all these criteria may be fronts for the sale of counterfeit drugs. As well as informing patients of the risks of taking such products, the FDA is also targeting doctors.