Summary
Parallel trade continues to irritate pharmaceutical companies in Europe, who view the trade as unfair competition and a danger
to public health. To date, the EU legal position regarding the free movement of goods has enabled parallel trade to continue
despite frequent court battles with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Naturally, parallel traders have cited such cases as highlighting
their legitimacy and have rejected criticism of their business. However, emerging information is associating parallel trade
with drug shortages in different EU countries. If patient safety is considered to be a risk, then the public will not accept
the stated view of parallel traders that their business adds value to European healthcare by providing competitive prices.
In fact, they could be seen as benefiting financially while patients struggle to access prescribed medicines. Parallel trade
representatives have yet to issue a response regarding current EU drug shortages, but they will need to react quickly as pharmaceutical
companies will cite such information as evidence of their previous warnings of the perils of parallel trade.
References
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