Over 200 potentially dangerous medicines removed from eBay

More than 200 listings advertising potentially dangerous erectile dysfunction medicines from global online marketplace eBay have been removed.

A total of 215 listings have been taken down following a new partnership between the Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and eBay which seeks to clamp down on unauthorised products and prevent potential harm to public health.

According to MHRA, erectile dysfunction medicines remain one of the ‘most frequently illegally traded medicines’ in the UK. MHRA has no oversight over unauthorised medications meaning their contents are unknown.

The government body has warned they could contain no active ingredient, or too much, or toxic ingredients which could be dangerous, particularly for people taking medications.

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MHRA’s Borderline products team, who are responsible for classification of the products, were able to identify the potentially dangerous medicines online through the shape of the tables indicating they were not genuine. eBay was alerted and the listings were removed.

Head of MHRA’s Borderline, Lynda Scammell, said: ‘Patient safety is our number one priority.

‘We can all enjoy shopping online from trusted marketplaces like eBay, but when it comes to medicines and medical devices, a higher threshold of caution is needed for these products.

‘You just don’t know what’s in it and what it could do to you. The message is clear, “Don’t gamble with your health”.

‘Our work with eBay continues to remove unauthorised products from sale and prevent potential harm to public health.

‘Collaborations such as this between public agencies and private companies have a substantial role to play in tackling illegal sales of medical products and protecting the health and safety of UK citizens.’

Health minister Zubir Ahmed added: ‘This is a great example of how government and internet-based businesses can work together to disrupt websites and social media accounts illegally selling these medicines and keep the public safe.

‘Buying any medicine from illegal online suppliers significantly increases the risk of receiving falsified or unlicensed products, often with drastic consequences.

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‘Doing so not only risks your own life but often provides funding for other illegal activity, so I commend the work done by MHRA and eBay to tackle this.’

Erectile dysfunction affects around 4.3 million men in the UK, according to the MHRA, but research suggests that two in five men would feel uncomfortable seeking medical advice with many resorting to online sources for help.

The MHRA is urging people to avoid buying medicines from social media, messaging apps or unknown websites, and instead visit a UK-registered pharmacy for Pharmacy Only (P) or Prescription Only Medicines (POM) medications.

Last year, a new AI algorithm developed with eBay successfully identified and blocked more than two million violations of the company’s policies on PO and POM, before the products could be offered for sale to the public.

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Anyone concerned about suspicious medicines or websites can report them through the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.

Recently, a registered nurse caught advertising and in unlawful possession of prescription injectable medicines associated with cosmetic treatments was fined.

Nafeyka Chavdarova, 44, was fined £720 after pleading guilty to nine charges relating to the unlawful possession of unlicensed prescription-only medicines intended for sale or supply as well as unlawfully advertising prescription medications.