The World Medical Association (WMA) has called on national healthcare user associations to combat the “growing culture of ill-advised self-diagnosis, self-prescription and self-medication”, at its annual general assembly, reports MedicalBrief.
The WMA, an international and independent confederation of free professional medical associations representing physicians worldwide, believes there should be stricter regulations imposed on businesses selling medical products, and that websites promoting fake and substandard products should be shut down.
In a policy document, the WMA warns that the shortage of medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the growth of fake and substandard products. It proposes action to tackle the problems of availability, quality and safety of medicines by calling for international prevention campaigns to raise awareness of the health risks of buying and using counterfeit drugs and how to identify fake medical products.
The WMA said medical associations of countries worldwide should actively oppose the illegal sales of medicines on the internet and the illegal importing of medicines and counterfeit medicines. It wants all websites illegally offering medical products not controlled by state health authorities shut down immediately.
Full WMA statement:
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