The Government should act on the increasing risk from fake medicines that can be bought over the Internet without a prescription, a report warned today.
Researchers at Dublin City University found a wide number of drugs were available to buy on Internet sites at reduced prices and without having to visit a doctor. But the identity and quality of many of the medicines was unknown, they said.
The report, commissioned by the Irish Patients' Association, said counterfeit drugs were a serious threat to public health.
Researchers Donal O'Mathuna and Adam McAuley urged the Government to introduce new laws to specifically address the counterfeit drug trade, which has links to organised crime and terrorism.
They said it was difficult to assess the extent of the problem in Ireland and called for more research into how much Irish people use the Internet to obtain medicines.
The report also urged the Government to examine whether An Post was being used to bring fake drugs into the country.
Gardaí and Customs officers must be given the resources to tackle the problem in co-ordination with Interpol, the report said.
According to the report, the most common fake medicines available were "lifestyle drugs" for treating cholesterol levels, athletic performance and erectile dysfunction.
Counterfeit drugs include products that have no active ingredients, the wrong ingredients, have expired or have been stolen.
The research, funded by the Department of Health, warned drug counterfeiting could have a significant impact on the legitimate Irish pharmaceuticals industry which was worth €34 billion in 2002.
Two of the most widely counterfeited drugs - cholesterol drug Lipitor and Viagra - are legally produced in Ireland.
PA