Counterfeit Tamiflu purchased over the internet

12 August 2009

There are media reports of concerns about the purchase of fake Tamiflu over the internet.

Australia's medicines regulator, the TGA, does not believe there is a big market for counterfeit Tamiflu coming into Australia over the internet but warns consumers that medicines purchased online could be unsafe.

The TGA is a member of the Permanent Forum on International Pharmaceutical Crime (PFIPC) and receives regular updates on medicine and medical device problem reports, including incidents of counterfeit goods.

The TGA works closely with border control agencies and with therapeutic product manufacturers to check for counterfeit medicines entering Australia.

While there is not a big market for counterfeit drugs in Australia because of our affordable medicines, people still do purchase drugs over the internet and risk them being counterfeit.

Most medicines purchased over the internet have not been evaluated for safety or effectiveness by the TGA and the TGA warns the Australian public of the dangers of purchasing medicines by the Internet, particularly in relation to the dangers involving counterfeit therapeutic goods.