Global pharma industry cooperates on anticounterfeiting initiative
Aims to crackdown on illegal online pharmacies and protect patients from unsafe medicines
The global pharmaceutical industry is calling for cooperation in tackling counterfeit medicines as a group of private US companies launches the Centre for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP) initiative to crackdown on illegal online pharmacies.
Four industry associations – 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) – are joining forces to help protect patients from illegal and unsafe medicines worldwide. They aim to do this by promoting access to safe and effective medicines and advocating robust patient education and awareness about counterfeiting.
As well as supporting the US government, the European Union, the Japanese government and international organisations, the four associations call on private sector stakeholders, including Internet domain name registrars, search engine operators, and payment service providers, to play critical roles in ensuring patient safety.
Eduardo Pisani, IFPMA director general, said: ‘Everybody is at risk of counterfeiting. Counterfeiting is a crime against patients and poses a public health risk that can lead to treatment resistance, extended illness, disability and even death.’
John Castellani, president and ceo of PhRMA, added: ‘Despite strong security of legitimate drug supply chains, law enforcement officials are increasingly facing an uphill battle as more and more criminals turn to the Internet to peddle their fake products to unsuspecting consumers. We applaud the work of CSIP and support it enthusiastically as a means of protecting patients.’
The threat of counterfeit medicines is widespread and growing. Fake medicines have been found in every disease category, in both generic and branded medicines, and in every region of the world. Many products seized from illegal Internet pharmacies contained hazardous ingredients or were not stored properly.
‘With documented cases in at least 124 countries, counterfeiting is a serious global health problem,’ said Tadaharu Goto, JPMA director general. The Japanese Government will soon launch both a website programme for public education and a public and private initiative against counterfeits.
Goto added: ‘It is only right that the global health community tackles counterfeiting with the same vigour as any other health threat, and as a partner, our global industry will continue to support efforts such as CSIP.’