Patients illegally selling prescription drugs online
Patients have been found illegally selling prescription drugs through the online auction website, eBay.
In an undercover investigation by the BBC, two patients were discovered selling unwanted or unused drugs, prescribed to them by specialists.
One patient sold Caverject to the undercover BBC reporter, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. The patient selling the drug received doses for free, as he had Type 1 diabetes. According to the BBC the patient was selling the drugs to three or four regular customers, as he couldn’t use them anymore.
The patient was prescribed four boxes a month, which he sold on eBay at a price of £6 per box. The four boxes of Caverject are said to cost the NHS £500 a year.
Another man was discovered selling the specialist arthritis drug Enbrel, for £250. The drug costs the NHS around £10,000 a year.
Speaking to the BBC, a spokesperson said: “Medicines are not ordinary consumer goods - and appropriately, strict legal controls apply to their sale and supply.
"Prescription medicines are "prescription only" for good reason - and should only be prescribed by doctors or approved healthcare professionals, based on clinical judgement, to ensure patients are getting the right treatment and monitor progress or deal with adverse reactions.
"Selling medicines, other than through a legitimate supply chain, is both illegal and poses unquestionable risks to the patient.
"Medicines have the ability to harm as well as cure - use them as directed by a healthcare professional."
EBay has since removed a number of items for sale from the site. A spokesperson for the site said: “EBay is a marketplace and sellers must comply with the law. EBay sellers are prohibited from listing prescription drugs, in line with rules set by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
"In addition to our own filters and other technology, eBay works closely with the MHRA and other regulators across the globe who have a direct line to eBay and enable us to remove any listings of concern as soon as they are reported."