The study reveals that $14.3 billion dollars worth of counterfeit drugs are sold yearly within Europe with Germany and Italy representing the majority of consumers
The survey asked around 14,000 people in 14 European countries
and showed a staggering 38 per cent rise in the number of individuals who confirmed that they did buy prescription drugs without a prescription in Germany and Italy, and only 21 per cent confirmed that in the other countries.
Jim Thomson, chair of the European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines (EAASM), confirmed the report and told Reuters that:
“Counterfeit medicine is costing the industry a huge amount of money but it’s costing healthcare providers a lot more.”
Pfizer’s ran the research because it is highly affected by this problem with its products Viagra and Lipitor being the target of major fakers
