The State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control continues its systematic work to fight the illegal sale of medicines, including sales via the Internet.
According to the WHO, medicines purchased through illegal online pharmacies that conceal their physical address are often counterfeit. Even if such medicines are not counterfeit, no one can guarantee their quality, safety, and therapeutic effect. This is because of lack of state control over their import, storage, and sale.
Such practices not only create risks to public health, but also undermine trust in medicines and the doctors who prescribe them. In addition, the uncontrolled purchase of medicines online deepens the problem of self-medication.
To protect public health, starting on October 2025, the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control will take active measures to identify illegal websites selling medicines without the appropriate permits.
Based on the results of joint efforts by the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control, its regional office in Kharkiv Oblast, and the Security Service of Ukraine, orders issued by the National Center for Operational and Technical Management of Electronic Communications Networks of Ukraine under the State Administration of Special Communications restricted access to 16 Internet resources that were engaged in illegal online retail trade on medicines.
SMDC reminds that the website of a business entity that has the right to engage in electronic retail trade on medicines must contain a special logo with a hyperlink. This link leads to a page with the official list of businesses authorized to engage in electronic retail trade on medicines, which is posted on the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control website.
The State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control urges citizens to be careful when purchasing medicines online and to use only verified resources. Regional authorities have been instructed to continue monitoring the Internet, identifying illegal websites selling medicines, and strengthening cooperation with law enforcement agencies in order to stop such activities.