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NABP Names 79 Internet Drug Outlets Operating in Conflict with Patient Safety and Pharmacy Practice Standards
On May 16, 2008, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) launched the Internet Pharmacies section of its Web site, educating patients on the potential dangers of buying medicine online and empowering them to make informed choices. Thus far, the site lists 79 Internet drug outlets that appear to be out of compliance with state and federal laws or NABP patient safety and pharmacy practice standards, thereby putting those who purchase from these sites in danger of purchasing drugs that could cause patients serious harm or even death.
NABP developed these standards for its new Internet Drug Outlet Identification program with input from its member boards of pharmacy, interested stakeholders, and regulatory agencies, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. Internet drug outlets operating in conflict with these criteria are listed on the NABP Web site as “not recommended.” NABP has identified another 200 suspiciously operating Internet drug outlets and is in the process of verifying its findings before posting these sites to the “not recommended” list. Of the hundreds of sites reviewed under this program so far, only nine have been found to be potentially legitimate, pending verification of licensure and other criteria. At this time, NABP recommends that patients buying medicine online use only Internet pharmacies accredited through the VIPPS® (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites™) program. NABP has verified that these pharmacies are appropriately licensed and have successfully completed the well-recognized and rigorous VIPPS criteria evaluation and on-site inspection. These pharmacies, representing more than 12,000 pharmacies, are listed on the NABP Web site as “recommended.”
Of the 79 Internet drug outlets currently listed as “not recommended”:
- 71 do not require a valid prescription – a valid prescription is a legal requirement for dispensing prescription drugs in the US;
- 35 offer foreign or non-FDA-approved drugs – it is illegal to sell such drugs in the US
- 36 have a physical address located outside of the US – to sell prescription drugs legally in the US,a pharmacy must be based in the US and licensed in each state where it practices pharmacy.
Many of these Internet drug outlets do not offer consultation with a pharmacist, do not secure patients’ personal or financial information, and do not provide a physical address for their base of operations. The World Health Organization estimates that medicines purchased over the Internet from outlets that conceal their actual physical address are counterfeit in over 50% of cases.
These lists, along with program criteria and related patient information, are accessible in the Internet Pharmacies section of the NABP Web site.
Established through a grant from Pfizer Inc, the new Internet Drug Outlet Identification program is an outgrowth of a 2007 NABP resolution, “Internet Pharmacy Public Safety Awareness,” in which the Association pledges to continue collaborating with federal agencies and other interested stakeholders to educate the public and health care professionals of the dangers of acquiring drugs illegally through the Internet and from foreign sources. As part of this initiative, NABP will provide information to assist state and federal regulators in their efforts to shut down rogue Internet drug outlets.
Larissa Doucette
