COVID-19: Beware of falsified medicines from unregistered websites

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Dear Europso member,

EMA is urging the general public not to buy medicines from unauthorized websites and other vendors aiming to exploit fears and concerns during the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Vendors may claim that their products can treat or prevent COVID-19 or may appear to provide easy access to legitimate medicines that are otherwise not readily available. Such products are likely to be falsified medicines.

Falsified medicines are fake medicines that vendors pass off as real or authorized. They may contain the wrong or no active ingredient or the right ingredient in the wrong amount. They may also contain very harmful substances that should not be in medicines. Taking such products can lead to severe health problems or a worsening of your condition.

To protect yourself from fraudulent vendors, only buy medicines from a local pharmacy or retailer or from an online pharmacy that is registered with the national competent authorities. You can find the lists of registered online pharmacies in EU countries via EMA’s website or directly from websites of the national competent authorities.

All registered online pharmacies have a common logo which you can use to confirm that the site is registered. The logo consists of a rectangle with horizontal stripes and a white cross placed in the left half of the rectangle adjacent to the midline. Below this is the flag of the EU country where the online pharmacy is registered.

Before buying a medicine from a site, check that the site has the logo and then click on it. You will then be taken to the website of your national authority and shown a list of all legally operating online pharmacies. Check that the online pharmacy you have visited is listed there before continuing with your purchase. If it is not listed, do not buy any medicine from that site.

Keeping safe when buying medicines

  • Falsified medicines can cause serious harm
  • When buying over the internet, only use registered online pharmacies
  • Check that the online pharmacy you are using has the common logo
  • Click on the logo and confirm that the online pharmacy is listed on the national authority website
  • Do not buy medicines advertised as cures or preventive treatments for COVID-19. To treat COVID-related symptoms such as fever, discuss with your doctor or follow advice from authorities

The public is reminded that there are currently no treatments authorized for COVID-19. Medicines are available for treating symptoms such as fever in line with advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

In the event of a shortage of any medicines, you should follow the advice of your doctor, pharmacist or national competent authority. You can find some information about ongoing shortages on the websites of EMA and the national competent authorities.

This information has been published on EMA’s website with related content. Please check EMA’s dedicated webpage on COVID-19 for the latest updates.

CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 CONCERNS?

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Dear Friends,

We understand that you may have concerns about the current coronavirus known as COVID-19. EUROPSO and its medical board are actively monitoring information on this virus. We want to remind the psoriatic disease community that the National Centers for Disease Control are the best resource for updates and information regarding this novel coronavirus for our community. While we will make every effort to keep our information up to date as the situation with COVID-19 progresses, we would always recommend following the guidance on the your local health authorities’ websites first and foremost, as this will be the most up to date, and therefore the most accurate.

If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms, or if you have specific concerns about your situation or treatment plan, you should contact your dermatologist, rheumatologist or health care provider by telephone.

Psoriasis patients receiving biological treatment or immunosuppressive drugs have not been described as a risk group for developing more severe forms of coronavirus disease, so we insist that you do not be misled by alarmist information and consult your doctor if you have any concerns. Likewise, we remind you that, in the event of an episode of high fever or respiratory symptoms, you should go to the doctor or call the emergency telephone number, to receive instructions, but never self-medicate or make unilateral decisions about your medication.

While we will make every effort to keep our information up to date as the situation with COVID-19 progresses, we would always recommend following the guidance on the your local health authorities’ websites first and foremost, as this will be the most up to date, and therefore the most accurate.

For more information: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Jan Koren
President of EUROPSO