Doctor harms patients with counterfeit medicine – court confirms ban on dispensing
Vienna (OTS) – Only the personal delivery of medication and advice from pharmacists guarantee patients absolute medication safety. Purchasing medication outside the pharmacy or from the Internet poses a great risk to your own health, warns the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists. The case of a Salzburg doctor shows how dramatic the health consequences can be for those affected who are offered medication illegally. Such medications are often not subject to any quality or origin controls.
Doctor dispenses illegal medication – and then a counterfeit one at that
A cosmetic surgeon had given his patients counterfeits of the drug Ozempic from an obviously illegal and dubious source, causing serious damage to these people’s health. In principle, medicines may only be sold to final consumers through pharmacies. This serves the public interests of drug safety and consumer protection.
In provisional proceedings brought by the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists against the doctor due to the unlawful dispensing of medicines, in particular counterfeits of the specialty drug Ozempic, the Salzburg Regional Court issued the interim injunction requested by the Chamber of Pharmacists on all points. The Linz Higher Regional Court has now rejected the doctor’s appeal and fully confirmed the preliminary injunction of the first court.
Drug safety along the entire supply chain is only guaranteed in the pharmacy. The strictly controlled procurement and distribution of medicines in Austria prevents counterfeits from entering the medicine market.
On this occasion, the Chamber of Pharmacists appeals to people: Please be on the safe side with your health, get personal advice from the pharmacists and only get your medication from your pharmacy!
Questions & Contact:
Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists Communication Tel: 01 / 404 14 – 600 E-Mail: presse@apothekerkammer.at
