US state department intensifies diplomatic efforts against fake medicine trade

The US State Department has outlined a range of measures it is taking overseas to fight the trade in counterfeit medicines.

‘Broadcasting the dangers of counterfeit and substandard medicines is critical to safeguarding pharmaceutical supply chains in the United States and other pharmaceutical supplier and consumer countries,’ said Robert Hormats, under secretary for economic growth, energy, and the environment at a Washington, DC global forum on pharmaceutical anti-counterfeiting and diversion. He said 80% of manufacturers selling active pharmaceutical ingredients used in medicines taken by American patients are based outside the US.

Hormats told delegates at the global forum that in the past two years, the State Department has funded 24 outreach projects on counterfeit medicines in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America including workshops, seminars, discussion groups, media campaigns and publications. He outlined an innovative pilot in India with the Partnership for Safe Medicines and Project HOPE, where researchers identify all medicine suppliers for two villages and provide training for patients on spotting counterfeit medicines.

Hormats said his department had also funded a government-to-government training programme helping foreign law enforcement, customs and judicial officials catch and prosecute traffickers of counterfeit medicines. His diplomats have asked G8 countries to produce a public report on their efforts to combat counterfeit pharmaceuticals.