Internet market place is a rapidly evolving as the new era pharmacy store. About 70% of medicinal products are purchased online yearly (Henney, 2010). This is indicative of how the pharmaceutical marketplace has shifted to a more “convenient” online purchase than the less “convenient” traditional store purchase system (Henney, 2010). In as much as the unquestionable benefits derived from the online marketplace drug purchase, there is a plethora of misguided information and concerns for public health and safety regarding unregulated online pharmacy store purchases (Henney, 2010). Based on Federal and State laws, it is illegal for unlicensed individuals or organizations to practice medicine, pharmacy or even dispense prescription medicine (Henney, 2010). Hence, unregulated online “pharmacy stores” will become a public health hazard if strict steps are not taken to address the growing illegal online pharmacy practices. In addition, there are torrents of misguided drug information and claims attributed to unregulated online marketplace (Henney, 2010). Unfortunately, some of these efficacy/safety claims are not clinically tested or proven. Furthermore, the more troubling concern for uncontrolled online pharmacy stores are the limitations in the international, federal and state laws, the enforcement methodology and jurisdiction criteria. Thus, to meet the unmet needs of modern technology and proper regulation of illegal drug sales, regulatory agency must address the online drug purchase carefully (Henney, 2010). The main objective of any regulatory agency is to protect public health and ensure that medicinal products are deemed safe before it enters the marketplace and properly regulated while in the market. Globally, part of the regulatory agency’s purview is regulating traditional pharmacy stores and enforcing dispensing license before a technician or pharmacist could dispense a prescription drug. The same principle should apply as the tenet of the online marketplace.

The scenario had already played out over time. For instance, in 2009, a dietary supplement called Alli caused several adverse events. It turned out that counterfeit form of Alli were being sold online. Analysis indicated that the counterfeit version of Alli contained sibutramine instead of orlistat. Unfortunately, excessive amounts of sibutramine lead to elevated blood pressure, anxiety, nausea, palpations of heart, heart attack, insomnia and stoke (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). This is one good instance indicating the potential public health hazard an illegal online purchase can cause.

Global regulatory agencies can encourage legitimate electronic commerce to flourish without infringing on the privacy and safety of individual rights under the law. On the other hand, online drug purchase should not be allowed to turn into a “street drug dealing”, which when ignored will facilitate public health hazard. We are in the middle of cyber drug war.

References

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Henney, J. (2010). Benefits and Risks of Internet Drug Sales. FDA. Retrieve from http://w ww.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Testimony/ucm114957.htm.

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011, December 8). Warning: Counterfeit Alli. Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm198557.htm

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Varki, A. (2008). How Eating Red Meat Can Spur Cancer Progression: New Mechanism Identified. Sciencedaily.com. Retrieve from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases /2008/11/081113181428.htm.