MHRA announces strategy to tackle medicine counterfeiting
Will focus on three main areas of prevention, incident management and investigation
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched its second anti-counterfeiting strategy, after revealing that it has seized more than £25m of counterfeit and stolen medicines in the last five years.
The Falsified Medical Products Strategy 2012–2015 details measures that the regulator will take to tackle counterfeit medicines and medical devices. Its first strategy was launched in 2007.
The MHRA says the overall aim of the new strategy is to reduce the risks to patients and consumers in the UK from the threats posed by counterfeit medical products while increasing the pressure on those behind this illegal activity.
The regulator says it will achieve this by focusing on three main areas of prevention, incident management and investigation.
Prevention – by implementing measures to prevent counterfeit medical products reaching patients.
Incident management – by ensuring that reports of suspected counterfeit medical products are investigated in a timely and efficient manner and when necessary recalled from the UK market, with the primary focus on minimising the risks to public health.
Investigation – by investigating thoroughly and where appropriate using all available legislative powers to prosecute those responsible for the manufacture, distribution and supply of counterfeit medical products.
Nimo Ahmed, MHRA acting Head of Enforcement, said: ‘The UK market for medicines is immense and is estimated to be worth around £8,000m. Combating the real and present threat posed by counterfeit medical products continues to remain a priority for the MHRA. We are committed to working closely with international partners and providing leadership in dealing with this issue to protect public health and maintaining public confidence in the way we obtain our medical products.’
Since 2007 the MHRA has achieved a number of successes in tackling counterfeit medical products.
In 2010 a co-ordinated international operation to tackle medicines being supplied illegally over the internet saw more than two million doses being seized across the world, almost 500 websites taken down and 90 individuals arrested.
In 2011, in the largest such operation to date, more than 13,500 illegal websites were taken down or suspended and 2.5 million doses of medicines were seized.
In March this year a joint operation across Europe saw 300,000 doses of medicines seized.
Most recently a confiscation order of £14.4m was made against a UK individual following his conviction for selling and supplying fake and unlicensed medicines.
