New online drug safety campaign

A five-month interdepartmental campaign was launched on Tuesday to combat illegal online pharmaceutical sales, the latest in a spate of official efforts to clean up online activities.

Drugs for the treatment of tumors, sexual dysfunction, diabetes and high blood pressure have been listed as "major targets," according to the statement issued by the joint sponsors, adding that the campaign will also crack down on the producers of counterfeit drugs.

Jointly launched by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), the State Internet Information Office, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the campaign will primarily focus on websites that have obtained Internet drug sale licenses but were found to have been involved in the promotion or sale of fake drugs.

Currently there are 101 licensed websites, said Yin Li, a CFDA deputy director, adding that these websites will be ordered to suspend operations for rectification should any illegality be spotted.

Vendors who market drugs online without obtaining business licenses and those selling fake drugs will also be targeted, the statement said.

This operation is also part of an ongoing campaign by the CFDA aimed to crack down on illegal pharmaceutical production and trade nationwide.

Unproven drugs that claimed to treat chronic diseases have been easily found online, as high costs for medical treatment have pushed many patients to resort to cheaper medicine.

Those websites spotted will be blacklisted and announced to the public, said the CFDA.

The Internet information office will first list the websites and transfer them to the CFDA. After being identified as illegal, they will be handed to the watchdogs then to public security departments should any illegal activities be found.

Regulations relevant to online drug sales will be revised, while drug makers, traders and consumers are encouraged to provide tips.

Intensive monitoring efforts will be adopted on the major search engines, which have become key marketing channels for illegal drug sales online.

Global Times - Agencies