While online shopping enables consumers to buy goods from all around the world without stepping out the door, there are risks along with the convenience, for instance, when purchasing medicines and slimming intake products. Recent years have witnessed many cases in Hong Kong regarding wrong intake of slimming products bought online which were found to contain western drug ingredients or even banned substances. One victim even had to be hospitalised for half a year for medical treatment. There were also cases where patients received promotional messages about medicines for cancer from unknown sources through mobile phone apps. The Consumer Council is highly concerned with these incidents.
The issue of buying medicine from internet sites is a global challenge. The World Health Organisation estimated that half of the medicines sold by online pharmacies that without any physical shops are counterfeit. In 2015, an operation led by the Interpol and 115 countries to combat illegal peddling of medicines from internet has found counterfeit and fraudulent drugs worth approximately US$81 million.
In Hong Kong the majority of online drug problems were involved with slimming products marketed as “healthy foods” with natural and herbal ingredients. Actually, these products were often found to contain western medicine ingredients, including banned substances like sibutramine and phenolphthalein, as well as hydrochlorothiazide, fluoxetine, chlorpheniramine and bisacodyl, etc.
In 2013, a lady suffered psychiatric symptoms of delusion and auditory hallucination after taking a slimming product bought online. The Department of Health revealed that the product contained sibutramine and phenolphthalein, both ingredients were not labelled on product package. Consequently, the lady had to be hospitalised for medical attention for nearly half a year. Intake of sibutramine could increase cardiovascular risk while phenolphthalein has possible carcinogenic effect.
In another case, the Department of Health reported that two samples of “Longevity Tea” products sold online were found to contain a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, named Diclofenac. Again, such ingredient was not disclosed on product package. In a subsequent operation jointly organised by the Department of Health and the Police in August this year, a woman suspect was arrested.
In addition to the illegal peddling of slimming products and “healthy food”, there were also cases in Hong Kong in which patients received promotional messages from mobile phone applications about medicines for cancer. The message was linked to website of a local pharmacy shop with names and logos of some pharmaceutical manufacturers displayed. However, one of the manufacturers clarified that they have never supplied drugs to the pharmacy shop, which means medicines offered in that shop could allegedly be fake or parallel imports.
So far, no pharmacy in Hong Kong has been authorised to carry out retail sale of controlled medicines via the internet. Taking unauthentic drugs is highly hazardous to health. Ingredients of these drugs are unidentifiable, or adulterated. Even when the drug carries the same active ingredient, its dosage remains unclear. As for parallel imports, health impact on consumer could be increased if the quality and effectiveness of these drugs are compromised due to improper storage during transportation.
Moreover, there are pharmacy shops referring “generic drugs” as cheaper alternatives to patients purchasing medicine for cancer. Consumers are cautioned of such tactics. According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, cancer drugs are categorised as prescription drugs which can only be sold with a doctor’s prescription and at registered pharmacies under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.
When buying medicine in Hong Kong, the golden rule is to look out for the registration number in the form of “HK - XXXXX” labelled prominently on the sales pack of the medicine. Consumers should not simply be attracted by cheaper price and take chances to buy drugs from unknown sources. Besides, illegal possession or sale (including internet sale) of unregistered pharmaceutical products and prescription drugs are criminal offences.
Online shopping is inevitable, including buying drugs. For the benefit of consumer protection, the Council believes that the Government could make reference to practices in Canada and Australia, where accreditation is required for online drug sellers. In Florida, the United States, internet pharmacy needs to be licenced and a toll-free hotline with pharmacists handling inquiries is asked to be established.
Fake and banned drugs are rife in online pharmacies. Consumers should never purchase through internet sites or consume drugs with unidentifiable or doubtful ingredients, and seek advice from lawful medical practitioners before taking any medicine.
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