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MHRA Cracks Down on £200m of Prescription-Only Medicines Diverted by Wholesalers and Pharmacists

on Wednesday, 13 June 2018.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is cracking down on the diversion of prescription-only medicines (POMs) from out of the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Following a two-year investigation, the UK's medicines regulator has discovered an extensive network of criminality involving a small number of wholesale dealers and pharmacies. It estimates that in the period 2013- 2016, up to £200m of medicines were diverted from the legitimate pharma supply chain onto the criminal market. This could have put thousands of vulnerable people at risk.

An independent review into dependence and addiction to prescription drugs was recently announced by the Department of Health and Social Care. That review will look at the results of a recent Home Office survey, which found that one in 13 UK adults had taken a prescription-only painkiller that had not been prescribed to them.

Some people have been arrested for offences such as possession with intent to supply a controlled drug, and offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Meanwhile, the focus of the MHRA's investigation is POMs that can lead to addiction, such as benzodiazepines and anxiolytics including Diazepam and Zopiclone, as well as the painkiller Tramadol.

Alastair Jeffrey, MHRA Head of Enforcement, said: "Selling medicines outside of the regulated supply chain is a serious criminal offence and we are working relentlessly with regulatory and law enforcement colleagues to identify and prosecute all those involved in this activity."

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council (the pharmacy regulator), warned: "We are working closely with the MHRA on the ongoing investigations into these very serious criminal offences. We have already taken action to suspend five pharmacists under interim orders and are actively reviewing at each stage of the investigations whether we need to take further action to protect the public."

Comment

These POMs can help patients, but subject to the right supervision, dosage and monitoring. If they are in the wrong hands, these medicines can cause harm. The motives appear to be money-making. What is shocking, though, is the scale of the problem.


If you have any thoughts about the impact of medicines being sold illegally, please share them with Paul Gershlick in our Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences team on 01923 919 320.

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