Increase in illegal imports of medicinal products in 2014: The risks are underestimated
Bern, 05.02.2015 - Medicines that people buy and take themselves without medical supervision involve numerous risks and dangers. Nevertheless, more illegal medicinal products were confiscated at the Swiss border last year than in the previous year. This follows a period of three years in which numbers declined. Over half the confiscated medicinal products were erectile stimulants. 45% of all the medicines confiscated originated in India.
Last year, Swiss customs reported 1,225 confiscations of illegal shipments of medicinal products to Swissmedic, compared to 1,096 cases in 2013. 53% of the preparations confiscated were erectile stimulants, 13% sleeping pills and tranquillisers and 10% slimming preparations. This puts sleeping pills and tranquillisers, which have a certain potential for dependency, in second place for the first time.
While the number of illegal imports fell between 2010 (1,852) and 2013 (1,096), the number of confiscations increased in 2014 by approx. 11%. While Swissmedic does not yet believe that this represents a reversal of the trend, it is nevertheless concerned about the sharp rise in the proportion of illegally imported erectile stimulants. Whereas this category accounted for 26% and 42% of seized medicines in 2012 and 2013 respectively, the figure rose to 53% last year.
Address for enquiries
Swissmedic, Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products
Peter Balzli, Acting spokesman
+41 58 462 02 76
media@swissmedic.ch
Links
Publisher
Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products
http://www.swissmedic.ch/?lang=2
