German investigation of pharmacy drug fraud

The German state prosecutor's office (SA) in Mannheim has said that about 100 pharmacies across Germany and two drug wholesale companies have conspired to put cancer drugs on the market which have not been approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities. The allegation reflects a wider investigation by state officials into drug counterfeiting and fraudulent sales. In a joint action with the Swiss authorities, officials earlier searched nearly 70 houses and business premises across several states as well as in Switzerland.

The SA officials estimate that the German public-sector health funds (Krankenkassen) have incurred several million euros of losses due to pharmacies having invoiced them for drug deliveries at German prices after obtaining them at lower cost.

However, a leading health fund (TKK) says that, although the drug products involved may not damage health, they have not been approved. Hermann Baerenfaenger, a TKK spokesman, stated that, in one example, 300 German pharmacies were found to have supplied non-approved cancer drugs to patients. He blamed firms in the UK and Isle of Man together with Denmark for the illegal distribution.