Counterfeit and falsified medicines threaten public health
IPR concerns should not cloud this global health issue
Given the heated and lengthy discussions on counterfeit and falsified medical products that took place during the recent 63rd World Health Assembly, the World Health Professions Alliance WHPA has voiced its concerns that patient safety and public health are being overlooked in favour of trademark concerns. All five CEOs of the WHPA partner organizations, representing 26 million health professionals worldwide, have spoken out on this issue. More
WHPA issues joint statement on counterfeiting
The WHPA has stepped up its commitment to fight the dangers posed by counterfeit medical products among health professionals, consumers and patients and their national governments. In March 2010, WHPA issued a joint statement on counterfeiting of medical products. More
A new, practical tool for health professionals
Health professionals worldwide have a new resource to assist them in the fight against counterfeit medical products. Launched in May 2010, the ‘Be Aware, Take Action’ toolkit seeks to help educate and improve the capacity of health professionals to detect, report and prevent counterfeit medical products. Three target audiences are catered for – health professionals, patients and public health advocates. More
Health professionals in Central America to tackle medicine safety
The first Be Aware, Take Action
2010 health professionals’ workshop on counterfeiting of medical products is planned for 19 October in San José, Costa Rica. It will bring together health professions organization representatives to share information, experience and best practices on the counterfeit medical products situation and to discuss how to stem the infiltration of counterfeits in the region. More
Recent announcements
Focus on Counterfeit Drugs
In April this year Nature Medicine
carried a special section ‘Focus on Counterfeit Drugs’, with national perspectives, anti-counterfeiting activities and several articles highlighting the issue of counterfeit anti-malarials (Nature Medicine April 2010 Volume 16 No 4 pp347-489) More
Are there counterfeit medicines in Croatia?
While there have been no recorded cases of counterfeit medicines in the legal supply chain in Croatia, medicines without marketing authorisation in Croatia, could be found on the illegal market. More
UAE Health Ministry demands that pharmaceutical companies to appoint pharmaceutical vigilance officer
29 April 2010: The medical practices and licenses sector at the UAE Ministry of Health issued a decision to demand all pharmaceuticals and medicine companies registered at the Registration and Pharmaceutical Drugs Department to appoint a pharmaceutical vigilance officer in their organizations within six months. by Lama Owais More
Dangers of buying prescription medicines over the Internet
04 May 2010: Buying prescription medicines on the Internet may be easily done, but the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) advises there are serious concerns for the safety of persons who purchase prescription medicines in this manner. There is no way for the purchaser of knowing where the website is based, from where it sources the medicines, or the quality, safety or effectiveness of the medicines supplied. More
Cameroon SFDA exposes 30 websites
17 May 2010: The Cameroon State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) issued 2010 First Safety Warning Announcement Regarding Buying Medicines Online and exposed 30 websites releasing false drug information and selling counterfeit or substandard drugs. More
FDA warning on phony Tamiflu
17 June 2010: The FDA warned consumers that a phony version of an antiviral drug being sold on the Internet could spark a harmful reaction in some people. More
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration issues counterfeit warning
21 June 2010: The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is investigating the source of the counterfeit Viagra (sildenafil) that has been supplied in Australia and has entered the wholesale/pharmacy supply chain. More
US announces crackdown on counterfeiting
22 June 2010: The White House unveiled a strategic plan to combat counterfeiting and piracy through increased intellectual property enforcement efforts. More
WCO Secretary vows to fight counterfeit drugs
24 June 2010: Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization, signed a declaration demonstrating his group's commitment to crack down on the counterfeit drug industry. More
At the same event former French President Jacques Chirac stated,“Let’s not ever forget that when a falsified product is bought, the consumer is the victim. No one knowingly buys a product that could threaten his life or that of one of his loved ones…A mother who buys fake medicine to treat malaria does not know that she is paying for her own death or that of her sick child. It is for that woman, and for that child, that I call for action today on the part of everyone. More
Uganda NDA seizes counterfeit drugs
8 July, 2010: The Uganda National Drug Authority has recovered 54 boxes of counterfeit drugs from a clinic in Iganga town. Zaidi Mwondha, the coordinator, said the drugs were worth UGX34m (USD 15,000). More
METAKELFINE use in Tanzania suspended
13 August, 2010: The Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) has suspended the importation, distribution, sale and use of Metakelfin an anti-malarial medicine due to presence of counterfeit tablets in Tanzania market. More
WHPA Counterfeit medical products campaign
With WHPA “Be Aware, Take Action” we provide dentists, nurses, pharmacists, physicians and physical therapists with tools and strategies to advocate for appropriate investments in the education and capacity building of health professionals to detect counterfeits and to safely inform colleagues and patients.
More
Newsletter 
