"Miracle" drugs online, the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate handles complaints with the Police

"Every complaint received regarding online sales, the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate carries out through the Kosovo Police in order to stop this activity, where punitive measures are taken in accordance with the legislation in force. There were 8 such cases that were handled during the year 2023 in cooperation with the Kosovo Police and punitive measures were taken in accordance with the legal provisions in force", says the response of the Inspectorate.

"Medicine for lungs, bronchitis, breathing, immunity and weight", "drops for removing kidney stones", "medicine for diabetes and high blood pressure", and "medicine for fighting", are just some of the products that are offered online at different pages on social networks that have thousands of followers.

The sale of "miracle drugs" is promoted through offers, buy one get one free, and also with free shipping. The benefits are described without any documentation, but there is no mention of the side effects or the content. No information is given about the country of origin either. 

The Pharmaceutical Inspectorate said that although online sales do not fall within its domain, the complaints they received about such products were handled in cooperation with the Kosovo Police.
KOHA has contacted many of these sites, seeking information on the content of the products, side effects and where they are produced. Then if they are registered and licensed as medical products in the Agency for Medicinal Products and Devices and if they have undergone any laboratory quality control. 

Apart from the automatic one within seconds, none of these online sites have responded. In them, the method of use is explained, a 100 percent guarantee is given for effectiveness and qualitative quality, and data such as address and phone number are requested for sending the order.

Regarding the circulation of these products presented as medical, KOHA has initiated questions in the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate, in the Market Inspectorate and in the Agency of Medicinal Products and Devices.

The Inspectorates clarified that online sales and purchases do not fall under the domain of the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate, except in cases where those products are registered by the Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices. And in such cases, according to the Inspectorate, the police is notified.

"For any doubt about the advertising or sale of medicinal products and devices, we notify the Kosovo Police, because the identification of social networks, 'Online sales and purchases', does not enter the domain of investigations by the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate, only in cases where we have the addresses of any subjects licensed by KKPPM as Pharmaceutical Circulator", says the response of the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate.

According to the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate, during 2023, in cooperation with the police, eight cases of online sales were identified.

"Every complaint received regarding online sales, the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate carries out through the Kosovo Police in order to stop this activity, where punitive measures are taken in accordance with the legislation in force. There were 8 such cases that were handled during 2023 in cooperation with the Kosovo Police and punitive measures were taken in accordance with the legal provisions in force", the Inspectorate's response states. 

The Market Inspectorate and the Agency for Medicinal Products and Devices did not respond.