HSA Joins 84 Countries in Concerted Operation Targeting Online Supply of Illegal Medicines

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA), as part of its global collaboration activities, participated in Operation Pangea IV, an international Internet week of action targeting online sale of unregistered, counterfeit and illegal medicines to the public. HSA has taken part in all four operations to date. Held from 20 to 27 September, the operation focuses on websites supplying illegal and dangerous medicines and is the largest global Internet-based action of its kind in support of the International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT).

2      This operation is co-ordinated by INTERPOL, the World Customs Organization (WCO), the Permanent Forum of International Pharmaceutical Crime (PFIPC), the Heads of Medicines Agencies Working Group of Enforcement Officers (HMA WGEO), the pharmaceutical industry and the electronic payments industry.

Local Internet Surveillance Results

3      During this concerted international Internet week of action to safeguard public health, HSA intensified its checks on suspicious local websites offering medicines and health products on top of its on-going Internet surveillance program. Regulatory actions were also taken against illegal online sales.

4      A total of 14 Internet platforms (ranging from discussion forums, web blogs, auction sites, online classified advertisements and company websites where medicines could be possibly offered for sale) were screened to see whether there was any contravention to Singapore's medicines' legislation. Of these, two sites were found to be selling illegal health products. $13,560 worth of products was seized and seven individuals are currently under investigation for illegal sale of medicines which include lifestyle medicines such as those for weight-loss products and birth control pills. See Annex A for products seized.

5      Among the various medicines that are illegally sold over the Internet, the sale of birth control pills is a common feature that has been observed in Operation Pangea over the last three years. Birth control pills are prescription medicines that contain potent medicinal ingredients. Use of these products without appropriate medical supervision may pose potential health risk of blood clots and high blood pressure. In addition, as the quality of these products cannot be vouched for, buyers may be consuming ineffective medicines that do not work for the intended purpose.

6      This is clearly illustrated in two recent cases: two types of birth control pills seized from this year's Operation Pangea were found to be substandard. The two products were labelled to contain the hormones - Levonorgestrel and, Levonorgestrol and Quinestrol - respectively which act as contraceptives. However, HSA's analytical tests revealed that these two products were devoid of these hormones. HSA's investigations showed that online sellers usually buy the products from foreign countries and sell them for a profit.

Public Education Campaign

7      Recognising the growing popularity of online shopping, including the purchase of health products like contact lenses and medicines online, HSA is rolling out a public education campaign to raise public awareness on the health dangers of buying such products online. The visuals will highlight the unseen dangers of seemingly innocuous online purchases. This campaign will leverage on multiple media channels such as print and radio, as well as popular social media platforms to help drive home the message. See Annex B for the campaign advertisement. Members of public are encouraged to visit www.healthdangersonline.sg to learn more about the dangers of buying health products online.

Consumer Advisory

8      With the Internet functioning as a global borderless medium that provides consumers easy access to health products, strong collaboration amongst international regulatory and enforcement agencies is required to combat these illegal online activities. Members of the public can also help to reduce such activities by purchasing health products only from reliable sources.

9      “There is no guarantee that the medicines purchased online are genuine or safe. It is difficult to verify the authenticity of any website, the supplier, or the medicines offered for sale over the Internet. You may be consuming products that contain the wrong active ingredient, wrong amounts of an active ingredient, or even no active ingredient, which can put your health or your life at risk,” says Associate Professor Chan Cheng Leng1, Assistant Group Director, HSA.

HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
29 SEPTEMBER 2011

Download PDF version here [PDF, 321 KB]