EAEPC attacks parallel trade report as "sheer propaganda tool," EAASM responds

Heinz Kobelt, secretary general of the European parallel drug traders' association (EAEPC), has attacked the recent report on fake drugs from the European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines (Marketletter November 26). Dr Kobelt said: "this kind of report makes no contribution to the patient safety debate. Published by an un-transparent, industry-funded 'patient safety alliance,' the report is about discrediting the legitimate and safe practice of European Union-internal distribution of medicines which introduces price competition for manufacturers."

He added that, "unfortunately, this kind of black propaganda risks distracting policymakers and the public from the real threats to patient health, such as illegal Internet sales of medicines. We would suggest that the report's author, Jonathan Harper, at least speak to or visit a parallel distributor before writing his next report on parallel trade."

EAASM's structure "is entirely transparent"