Shame in Germany with anti-cancer drugs stolen in Greece

German media returns to the case of stolen anti-cancer drugs from Greece that have been trafficked on the German market, commentators speak of political responsibilities

The case of drugs anti-cancer drugs stolen in Greece marketed in Germany employing SMEs. Specifically, an article on the Tagesschau website (newsletter of the first program of the German public television ARD) is published, which states: "The suspected anti-cancer drugs have apparently resulted in the drug market in Germany. pharmaceutical Brandenburg Lunapharm allegedly stole millions of stolen medicines for years

This results from a list of the Brandenburg State Ministry of Health to which the rbb radio network has access. According to her, from 2015 to 2017 Lunapharm has sold drugs to pharmacies and drug traffickers in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Hamburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden Württemberg, Berlin, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. Greek pharmacy, which had no license for wholesale trade in Germany.

There is no reason to worry about patients, said the Ministry Health Commission, adding that the specimens tested met the quality and content requirements of the active substance

By contrast, and according to rbb, the Greek authorities are concerned that the drugs are not effective because the standards of refrigeration and storage were not respected. "

The Department of Health has no responsibility

Noting that the scandal is not only about Brandenburg, but the in Germany, the newspaper Tagesspiegel commented that it should There are political consequences because the state has not protected its citizens: "This should not be the case. Because it's a matter of life and death. In Brandenburg, the Regional Health Service has failed in one of its key competences, drug control. Because ineffective anticancer drugs have probably been sold for chemotherapy and given to patients for whom treatment may be the last hello.

[…] There is no doubt that the Ministry of Health has absolutely no responsibility for criminal circuits. But he bears the responsibility when he does not react. Where and despite indications of illegal activities in the long term, there are no consequences. In the spring of 2017, the Greek authorities indicated that since 2013, there have been numerous thefts of anti-cancer drugs in hospitals that were neither stored nor transported on the basis of specifications. They were then sold in Germany by a pharmaceutical company based in Brandenburg, against several million. The prosecutor's office and the prosecutor's office also notified the Ministry of Health, but that did little and the company continued. (…)

The loss of confidence could not be greater. Confidence in the state and the protection that it has to offer. And Minister (Minister of Health) Golce? He runs a field in which something has gone wrong and this has had serious consequences. The competent administrative authority did not achieve anything. All this is the political and human error of Galche. Why something happened late: a clear apology to precarious families, in all ways and with all the compbadion. Diane Golche should take responsibility. "

Source: DW