Current Threats to Maintaining a Secure Pharmaceutical Supply Chain in an Online World

Abstract

Background: Maintaining integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain is critical to providing medications that are free from adulteration (counterfeit, substandard or unapproved medications), making them safe for patient use. Purchasing pharmaceuticals through the Internet can be associated with a risk of receiving adulterated medicines. Objective: The objective of this study was to review the current threats to maintaining a secure pharmaceutical supply chain, specifically focused on Internet-based procurement of medications. Methods: A review of the literature was conducted along with collating important up to date resources and other publications that provide foundational information to understanding the risks and prevention strategies for online purchasing of pharmaceuticals. Conclusion: The information provided in this article helps to properly inform pharmacy leaders to the resources available to protect against the risks of on-line purchasing of pharmaceuticals.

Keywords

pharmaceuticals online quality assurance safety counterfeiting

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Brechtelsbauer

Pennell

Durham

Hertig

Weber

RJ.

Review of the 2015 Drug Supply Chain Security Act. Hosp Pharm. 2016;51(6):493-500.

US Food & Drug Administration. Drug supply chain integrity. US Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugIntegrityandSupplyChainSecurity/. Published April 2019. Accessed July 24, 2019.

Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies. Key data about online sales of prescription medicines. https://buysaferx.pharmacy/for-the-media/examples-of-people-harmed-by-medications-bought-online/ Accessed August 7, 2019.

Castellucci

The consumer is wielding greater power, but hospitals aren’t ready, CEOs say. Modern Healthcare, December 9. https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20171209/NEWS/171209866/the-consumer-is-wielding-greater-power-but-hospitals-aren-t-ready-ceos-say. Accessed April 2019.

Netcraft. March 2017 web server survey. https://news.netcraft.com/archives/2017/03/24/march-2017-web-server-survey.html. Published March 2017. Accessed July 24, 2019.

US Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2015 Internet crime report. Internet Crime Complaint Center. https://pdf.ic3.gov/2015_IC3Report.pdf. Accessed July 24, 2019.

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program. Mount Prospect, IL: National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; 2016.

World Health Organization. Substandard, spurious, falsely labelled, falsified and counterfeit medical products. https://www.who.int/medicines/services/counterfeit/faqs/SSFFC_FAQ_print.pdf. Published April 2014. Accessed July 24, 2019.

LegitScript. International pharmacy certification standards. Date unknown. https://www.legitscript.com/certification/pharmacies/standards/. Accessed July 24, 2019.

10.

Hertig

Anderson

Scott

Marwitz

Walters

Wasynczuk

. Evaluation of risk perception associated with online pharmacy use. https://asopfoundation.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ASOP-White-Paper-Final.pdf. Accessed July 24, 2019.

11.

McGinley

Four former FDA commissioners denounce drug importation, citing dangers to consumers. The Washington Post, March 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/03/17/four-former-fda-commissioners-denounce-drug-importation-citing-dangers-to-consumers/?utm_term=.f06b625e4689. Accessed June 2019.

12.

Bate

PHAKE: The Deadly World of Falsified and Substandard Medicines. Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute; 2014.