Insights about ‘Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies’ (ASOP)
The ASOP Global is dedicated to helping consumers stay safe online among more than 33,000 illegal online pharmacies. The LegitScript URL verification tool or search the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s database of verified pharmacy websites shall be used to ensure the online pharmacy sites you visit are safe and legitimate. Of late, the ‘Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies’ tied-up with new partners such as the International Alliance for Patients’ Organizations (IAPO), Consumer Online Foundation (COF) India, National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE), and Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA). There are around 276 member organizations from 71 countries representing 50 disease areas under the International Alliance for Patients’ Organizations (IAPO) and it is regarded as one of the hosts of the March 2017 International Forum on Patient Safety and Access to Safe Online Pharmacies in New Delhi, India, an event organized by ASOP Global.
IAPO Board Member Bejon Misra said that “Ensuring patient access to safe medicine is the ultimate aim of IAPO irrespective of its source of purchase (online or offline)”. He also added that “To help address the threats posed by illegal online drug sellers and guide the patients to safe access to medicine is the major reason for us to get associated with ASOP”. An additional international perspective to ASOP Global will be provided by the Consumer Online Federation (COF) India besides co-hosting the March 2017 forum.
In an interaction COF Director Piyush Misra shared his views on illegal online drug sellers operate globally, impacting consumers worldwide. He also affirmed that COF works for the betterment of consumer rights in India. He added a great regard to ASOP Global for joining them to help make online pharmacies safer for consumers wherever they live. In fact, among the 16 organizations, the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) and Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) have joined to the recent Healthcare provider awareness campaign. Ray Bullman, the NCPIE’s Executive Vice President said: “NCPIE plays a leadership role in educating patients, physicians, and others about all aspects of medicine safety with the support of the strength and commitment of our diverse membership”. He also added they will be looking forward to continuing their support as an ASOP Global member to ensure that patients have the information they need to stay safe as well as to avoid adverse reactions in order to live healthier lives.
The vital link to represent The Healthcare Distribution Alliance is the national organization that comprises of primary pharmaceutical distributors and it also acts as the bridge between the nation’s pharmaceutical manufacturers and more than 200,000 pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and others nationwide. In addition to unsafe medicines, including products sold by illegal online drug sellers ASOP demonstrates all the ongoing commitment to a safe and secure pharmaceutical supply chain and protecting consumers from unauthorized or counterfeit medicines. The illegal and counterfeit medicines including the online pharmacies are estimated to be $200 billion worth a year and the market for such pharmaceuticals revolves around almost everything else such as illegal arms sales, underground economy, human trafficking, prostitution and several other areas where illegal means of activities are carried out.
The research conducted by Global ASOP and LegitScript in 2016 issued an alarming report according to which almost everything else in the underground economy, including prostitution, human trafficking, and illegal arms sales have been found as the victims for 600 new Internet pharmacy websites that are launched every month. Some of the deadly poisons present in counterfeit medicines often contain little or no active ingredients or, worse yet, dangerous and deadly poisons including floor wax, mercury, concrete, chalk, boric acid, road tar, and anti-freeze.
