Handling of Internet Advertising: the Case of Traditional Medicines Alerted as Harmful Products by www.tumdee.org

Abstract

Objective: To study regulatory agencies’ handling of illegal internet advertising for selling of drugs with known hazard and to collect suggestion for improving the control of internet advertising for selling drugs. Methods: The researcher collected the lists of traditional medicines alerted in www.tumdee.org by Department of Medical Sciences during Jan 20, 2012-Jun 20, 2014 as adulterated with prohibited substances. Subsequently, names of the products were searched for their internet advertising using the Google search engine. Additionally, the researcher also interviewed officials in charge on legal enforcement for internet advertising of drugs, working in Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Department of Special investigation, Royal Thai Police and Provincial Public Prosecutor Office. The researcher analyzed information from the interview using content analysis to reach the conclusion on the suggestion for improving the handling of the problem. Results: The www.tumdee.org alerted 35 items of traditional medicines as harmful products. Google search with these products’ names revealed internet advertising of 19 products in 44 websites. Most of the contacts for buying the products were the addresses of manufacturers. The study found no legal enforcement on these advertisings. The interview in related officials suggested that Food and Drug Administration should fasten the handling process for this problem, educate consumers on known harmful products, raise the awareness among entrepreneurs of health products on penalty for violation of law, and revise the law controlling internet advertising of health products to be more explicit. Conclusion: Many traditional medicines known to regulatory agencies as risky products remain advertised on internet with no legal enforcement taken. Food and Drug Administration should strengthen risk management on this issue.