Health · Medical Research · 16 hrs ago
Study finds illegal medicine sellers in more than one-third of Google retail links
Researchers examined 9,000 unpaid Google search results across 30 European countries from March 2023 to April 2024.
Of the results, 3,839 linked to medicine retailers, and 36.3% of those retail links led to illegal vendors without recognized legal authorization.
The study covered controlled medicines, other prescription drugs and over-the-counter products, using six medicines as examples.
For controlled medicines, more than 76% of retail links led to illicit sellers.
Illegal vendors were generally more visible among highly ranked results in countries that prohibit online medicine sales.
Buying medicines from unverified sellers can expose people to falsified or substandard products, with risks including harmful reactions and treatment failure.
The findings could inform future public health policies to reduce exposure to illegal online sellers.
A study of Google search results in 30 European countries found that more than one-third of links to online medicine retailers led to illegal vendors.
Researchers examined 9,000 organic search results collected between March 2023 and April 2024.
Of links to medicine retail platforms, 63.7% led to legitimate pharmacies and 36.3% to illegal vendors.
For controlled substances, the share of links to illicit sellers exceeded 76%.
Illegal vendors were generally more visible among highly ranked results in countries that prohibit online medicine sales.
- Who
- Researchers studying online medicine sellers in Europe.
- What
- The study found that 36.3% of Google links to medicine retail platforms led to illegal vendors.
- When
- Search results were collected between March 2023 and April 2024. The article was published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Google search results across 30 European countries: the 27 EU member states, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
- Why
- The researchers aimed to assess associations between national online medicine sales policies, drug classifications and the visibility of illegal sellers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers collected the top 50 organic Google results for medicine purchase queries in each of 30 European countries.
News-Medical published its report on the study.
- Countries studied
- 30
- Search results examined
- 9,000 organic Google results
- Medicine retail links
- 3,839, or 42.6% of all results
- Legitimate pharmacy links
- 63.7% of medicine retail links
- Illegal vendor links
- 36.3% of medicine retail links
- Controlled substances
- Illicit sellers accounted for more than 76% of links