Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2026
183. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken by the Health Products Regulatory Authority to control the illegal sales of prescription medications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28385/26]
View answer872. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken in digital interventions by HPRA to shut down websites, social media and e-commerce listings promoting illegal medicines in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28386/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 872 together.
As part of its enforcement remit, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) conducts ongoing monitoring to identify illegal online activity promoting prescription medicines and other substances to consumers. It routinely intervenes to disrupt this online promotion through website closures and social media page removals and actively works with e-commerce platforms and social-media companies to identify illegal content.
In 2025, the HPRA shutdown or amended 4,762 such websites, e-commerce listings and/or social media pages. This compares to 2,553 websites shutdown or amended in 2024 and 2,348 websites in 2023.
The HPRA continually warns the public that sourcing prescription medicines outside of a registered pharmacy and without appropriate medical supervision poses a significant risk to health. Products obtained through online or other unauthorised channels fall outside the regulated supply chain, meaning their quality, safety, and origins cannot be assured. These medicines may be counterfeit, mislabelled, or contain harmful or ineffective ingredients. Using such products can result in serious adverse effects and represents a real but fully avoidable danger to public health.
