The UK’s leading brand protection organisation, Mark Monitor, has just published a report warning about the growing illegal trade in diet pills online. At the moment, the UK market in slimming aids is worth more than £55m. However, the research published by the organisation demonstrates the increasing abuse of slimmers that is taking place on the internet.
MarkMonitor say that there are hundreds of websites that are selling prescription-only slimming drugs with no prescription and no consultation. There are two slimming drugs that are widely prescribed in the UK, Reductil (Sibutramine) and Xenical (orlistat). While these drugs are generally safe, they are prescription only for a reason, as there are various contra-indications such as high blood pressure or medications that can make them dangerous. People buying these drugs online without checking with a doctor are putting their health at risk. The websites are also offering drugs unfit for human consumption
The firm says that currently, they were able to identify over three hundred commercial websites where medication illegal without prescription could be bought. They also discovered 377 websites where large quantities of the drugs could be purchased. Charlie Abrahams, a representitive of Mark Monitor said, "This practice can only be reduced by brand and trademark owners effectively monitoring their online sales channels and ensuring that any non-authentic sites are closed down as soon as possible”.
Here at The Online Clinic, we pride ourselves on the safety measures that we have put in place. For us it is very depressing not only to think of the thousands of people needlessly putting their health at risk, but also that unethical websites are damaging the reputations of legitimate online medical service providers. Hopefully, this report will lead to a major crackdown on illegal providers of prescription only medicines online.