Dangers of Rogue Online Pharmacies

Implications: The Columbus Dispatch published a six-part expose/overview about the diversion and sale of controlled substances. Mike Pramik, the reporter who wrote all six parts, has pulled together a must-read series. Since the Dispatch is also Cardinal Health’s (CAH) hometown paper, there are some good insights into the ways that Cardinal has dealt with the challenges of selling to potential rogue Internet pharmacies.

Analysis: The main article ("Online Overdose") provides a succinct summary of the biggest problem with the pharmaceutical supply chain today.

Guess what? It’s really easy to get controlled substances via rogue Internet pharmacies sites, which “flourished in a virtually unchecked pharmaceutical supply chain that allowed anyone to answer a few questions and easily receive addictive medications, the same controlled substances that are in high demand on the street.” Lots of good facts and quotes, including one from yours truly.

The second article ("Cardinal pays for drug slip-ups") A behind-the-scenes look at the problems that led to the recently resolved license suspensions at Cardinal Health (CAH). (See Cardinal Health Finally Resolves DEA Issue -- Council site).  There are some eyebrow-raising statements in this article about what happened between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Cardinal, including some very negative statements from Cardinal’s former director of compliance. Hard to tell what is true and what is spin, but it's a well-reported story.

The other four article are also good and highlight the problems of drug diversion and illegal online pharmacies.