In the streets of Los Angeles, signs that offer money in exchange for diabetes strips leave what could be a black market of this device that is sold on Internet pages four times cheaper than it costs in pharmacies.
Treating diabetes can mean a complicated and expensive process for thousands of families who lack medical insurance, but for resellers who would be taking advantage of federal subsidies to profit, it is a profitable market and little monitored by authorities, as they pretendThe investigation carried out by Univision 34.
Each year, the Federal Government allocates more than one billion dollars to subsidize diabetes strips to scarce people.In the streets of Los Angeles, signs that offer money in exchange for these devices and are the entrance door of a black market that operates online, where boxes are sold with the red line that warns that it is a medical product of use of useexclusive for those who have Medicare or Medical.
While in pharmacies a box of diabetes of the Tru Test diabetes has a cost of between 24 and 27 dollars, with sellers on eBay the price varies between 6 and 11 dollars.
Erick Aguilar, agent of the Department of Health Services (DHS), told the journalist Norma Ribeiro de Univisón 34 investigates that the origin of the strips sold online that, in some cases, seem to come from the supply ofsubsidized products at the federal or state level.
"If these products have been obtained by insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, and they reversed or steal it, then it is considered fraud because they do receive them for nothing or very little price," he explained.
In a statement to Univisión, Elevise, a company that performs diabetes strips, said it is possible that the product destined for patients with federal help arrives at other people.
Medicare spokesmen rejected that there is a black market and pointed out that signs or the sale of internet devices "is not evidence that beneficiaries resell the products."
Univisión 34 Investiga acquired these vendors online vendors and found that in some of the boxes the label that warns that it is a medication from federal programs appears.
In addition, as part of the investigation, Univisión contacted one of the possible resellers to advertise on signs through the city to know how much the boxes buy.
Through text messages, the intermediary offered up to $ 5 for a box with diabetes strips.
“The profits (for the seller) are incredible because they receive the products for very low price or for free and resell them.5 dollars is already profit, ”Aguilar criticized.
Black Market of Diabetes Strips in Los Angeles (Part 2) /Univision
In addition to contributing to a possible fraud, another of the dangers of acquiring merchandise of doubtful origin online is its effectiveness, since there is no guarantee that they are stored properly.
"They have boxes and medication boxes in full sun and that can affect the medication," warned the DHS agent.
Spokesmen of the Administration of Drugs and Food (FDA) declared that it can be dangerous to use reactive strips that have not been manipulated and stored correctly.If they have been adulterated, reselling them is not legal and the FDA can take legal measures.