Diversion of drugs by Illegal internet pharmacies a big problem says INCB

The organisation made the comment during the presentation of its 2011 report at a meeting in New York last month, where it asserted that a large part of the problem had arisen due to illegal internet pharmacies.

“INCB is concerned that the diversion of some narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, often in the form of pharmaceutical preparations, from licit channels at the national level has become a major source of supply for illicit markets.

“Illegal Internet pharmacies continue to sell internationally controlled substances and are increasingly marketing their websites through social networking sites.”

The organisation called on Governments and the pharmaceutical sector to continue to take action against such illegal Internet pharmacies.

It also stressed the importance of developing a system for controlling the importation and exportation of drugs and updated on its own efforts in this area.

“INCB has been working with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the development of an electronic import and export authorization system. The system would facilitate the licit trade in internationally controlled substances while preventing diversion and would ensure the security of the electronic exchange of import and export authorizations between countries​.”