Finnair flights to Delhi could increase unlawful pharmaceutical imports

Pharmacies in India are selling generic copies of Western medicines at a fraction of the price charged by Western pharmacies. Indian law allows the production of generic copies of medicines that have patent protection in the West. However, importing them into Finland is illegal. Finnish customs officials fear that the opening of direct flights between Helsinki and Delhi could lead to a surge in imports of the banned medicines. Pharmaceuticals produced in India have already established themselves as some of the hottest sellers on Internet-based pharmacies.
Helsingin Sanomat visited three Indian cities and found that pharmacies there sold Indian versions at prices that were between 94 and 98 percent less than what the original patented versions cost at Finnish pharmacies.
Some travellers from Delhi have already been caught for illegally bringing in prescription drugs.
Pitkäniemi, who recently came back from a visit to India, said that he fears that increased passenger traffic to India could broaden the selection of illegal drug imports to psychoactive drugs.
12/12/06 Helsingin Sanomat, Finland

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