title: [Counterfeit Medicines in Internet and the Fakeshare European Project: Experiences and Activities in Spain].
abstract: The illicit trafficking of medicines over the Internet is a growing problem that affects public health. Since 2013, the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) participates in the European project Fakeshare, co-funded by the European Commission and coordinated by the Italian Medicines Agency (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco, AIFA). This project aims to coordinate initiatives against the illegal supply of medicines, including from purchases through websites engaged in illegal activity, to thefts and other diversions of medicines to the illicit trafficking.This paper presents the activities in that area as well as strategies and elaborated materials at the national level. The keys to fight or face the illegal sale of medicines over the internet are coordinated cooperation with all the stakeholders, development of communication campaigns to raise awareness and sensitize consumers, health professionals and industry organizations about the risks of buying medicines on illegal websites, creating databases to share information on thefts and other deviations to the illegal market and disseminate national practices to combat illicit medicines trafficking at European and international levels.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inspección y Control, Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios. Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad and Departamento de Periodismo y Comunicación Audiovisual. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Catalán-Matamoros
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inspección y Control, Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios.Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: González-Ochando
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inspección y Control, Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios.Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad.
authors.forename: Henar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pecharroman-Arribas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inspección y Control, Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios.Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Muelas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inspección y Control, Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios.Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad.
authors.forename: Stella Sandra
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bentolila-Benchimol
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inspección y Control, Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios.Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad.mibarra@aemps.es.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: IbarraLorente
mesh_terms: D058110:Counterfeit Drugs; D003415:Crime; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005060:Europe; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D020407:Internet; D007558:Italy; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000592:standards* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D058110:Counterfeit Drugs; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: Collaboration; Communication; Counterfeit medicines; Internet; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Public health; Spain