The Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM), headquartered in Washington, DC in the US, has honoured the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with the 2012 Guardian Award. The Award is given annually to the individual or organisation that has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the fight to stop counterfeit medicines.
At a ceremony held in Washington, DC, Marvin Shepherd, president of PSM, said: ‘In recognition of the MHRA’s tireless work to protect patients from the dangers of illegal drug sellers, the Partnership for Safe Medicines is extremely pleased to present MHRA with this year’s Guardian Award.’
‘A global problem demands a global solution, and MHRA stands at the forefront of both enforcement and education. We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the MHRA in the fight against counterfeit medicines, and look forward to continuing our partnership into the future.’
Gerald Heddell, MHRA director of inspection, enforcement and standards, who received the award on behalf of the MHRA, said: ‘This is an excellent achievement for the MHRA and we are very pleased that our focus on tackling counterfeit medicines to help protect the public has been recognised.’
In the last five years, the MHRA has seized £34m of medicines that were being supplied illegally in the UK, all of which may have presented a risk to the public.’
