Global counterfeit concerns
July 25, 2012
THIS week the global
pharmaceutical industry rallied to
call for governments, industry and
stakeholders to work together to
stop the threat posed by the
growing entry of counterfeit
medicines from illicit internet
pharmacies and other sources.
The joint statement issued by the
International Federation of
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers &
Associations (IFPMA), Pharmaceutical
Research and Manufacturers of
America (PhRMA), European
Federation of Pharmaceutical
Industries and Associations (EFPIA),
and Japanese Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers Association (JPMA),
included recommendations to
tackle the threat of counterfeits.
Together the quartet advocated
robust patient education and
awareness about counterfeiting and
combating unsafe medicines, called
for policymakers to set up effective
safeguard systems against the entry
of counterfeits in the legal supply
chain, and also called for a crackdown
on the makers of unsafe products.
The group also urged private
stakeholders, including internet
domain name registrars, search
engine operators, and payment
service providers, to play critical
roles in ensuring patient safety.
“Counterfeiting is a crime against
patients and poses a public health
risk that can lead to treatment
resistance, extended illness, disability
and even death,” said Eduardo
Pisani, IFPMA Director General.
“With documented cases in at
least 124 countries, counterfeiting
is a serious global health problem,”
added Tadaharu Goto of JPMA.
The calls coincide with the US
launch of the Centre for Safe Internet
Pharmacies initiative, set up to
target illegal internet pharmacies.
MEANWHILE the statement has
been welcomed locally by Medicines
Australia, with CE Dr Brendan Shaw
saying “We support any initiative
that will provide accurate
information to health consumers
on safe internet pharmacy sites”.
“We urge patients not to put
themselves or their families at risk
by gambling on cheap internet
alternatives,” Shaw said.
“The best way to avoid the risk of
counterfeit medicines is to get your
prescription filled at a community
pharmacy,” he added.
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