Illegal and falsified medical products
The danger to public health inherent in the coronavirus pandemic has been amplified by the sale of unauthorised medicines claiming – without any proof – that they can prevent or treat COVID-19, and of falsified medicines and test kits. Criminals have been quick to take advantage of the increased demand for medical, personal-protection and hygiene products, including by advertising and selling their products online. Valid, up-to-date information on medicines and medical products from reliable sources is an important factor in public health protection under normal circumstances, but has become crucial for all during the pandemic.
Advice to the public on illegal and falsified medical products
European citizens are advised to exercise extreme caution when buying medicines online, as illegal online pharmacies and other vendors may try to benefit from the pandemic situation to sell unauthorised, falsified or low-quality medicines.
The EDQM reminds the public that there are currently only a very limited number of authorised medicines to treat COVID-19 and that they should not buy medicines falsely advertised as such online. Medicines are available to treat symptoms on advice from their doctor or pharmacist.
Regarding vaccines, the EDQM stresses that the EMA and national health authorities have established strict control procedures to ensure that only safe vaccines are authorised, and that they are distributed through a secure supply chain. Most alerts to the public on the risk of fake vaccines published by various law-enforcement authorities relate to the trafficking of vaccines through unofficial and unauthorised channels.
COVID-19 vaccines are distributed directly to government agencies and are not for sale: any vaccine for sale is therefore clearly a falsified or unauthorised product.
Generally speaking, the EDQM strongly recommends that the public obtain medical products, regardless of their nature, exclusively through official, authorised channels.
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Impact of COVID-19 on illegal activities – Regular assessments by national authorities in Europe
Exchanges of experience and information related to the COVID-19 pandemic take place regularly at the meetings of the Committee of Experts on Minimising Public Health Risks Posed by Falsification of Medical Products and Similar Crimes (CD-P-PH/CMED) and have focussed on various issues as the situation developed. Although delegates initially reported shortages of medicines and medical devices and attempts to profit illegally from the situation, these shortages have since been brought under control. Very few cases of falsified vaccines have been encountered in Europe, thanks to strict supply chain and distribution controls. Most cases of fraud involve scams with no real products behind them. More recent issues involve borderline products being offered as prevention (unauthorised medicines, miracle products, etc.), with demand being fuelled by vaccine hesitancy and consumers favouring alternative medicines.
The CD-P-PH/CMED has continued to involve other organisations (e.g. WHO and the Heads of Medicines Agencies network) in its work to exchange on common challenges and trends on COVID-related falsifications.
More information on the CD-P-PH/CMED is available here: Background & mission.
At a time of unprecedented challenges to the health sector, the Council of Europe calls on governments to be extremely vigilant against falsified medical products. States can rely on the MEDICRIME Convention to safeguard public health and target criminals trying to take advantage of the current crisis by offering falsified medical products for sale.
Learn more about the Council of Europe MEDICRIME Convention.
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides general advice and information on its COVID-19 pages, and more specifically releases alerts on falsified medical products. Due diligence is required from all stakeholders in the procurement, use and administration of medical products, in particular those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHO Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) page
WHO medical product alerts
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