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This week the BBC published an article on combating fake medicines in Africa. With fake anti-malarial medicines killing thousands a year, the article not only highlights the devastating effects of fake medicines, it also includes the work of innovative start-ups using technology to combat the problem. From invisible printing to SMS alerts, these are just a few of the ways start-ups are trying to uncover fake drugs and ensure patients are taking the correct medication. Featuring quotes Read more…

This article was originally published in The Pharma Letter. EFPIA highlights 17 billion euros cost of counterfeit drugs 30-09-2016 The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has highlighted the findings of a new report in calling for a global response to the problem of counterfeit medicines. Published by the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights and titled The economic cost of IPR infringement in the pharmaceutical industry, the report assesses the Read more…

Wednesday 14 September, stakeholders from across Europe continued the conversation on how best to communication about fake medicines with the public in Europe. Various reports have shown that public awareness around the dangers of fake medicines online is lacking, and that campaigns to address this gap are needed. The meeting was hosted by the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP EU), with participants from across countries of the European Union, the European Commission and other Read more…

This week Fight the Fakes will be in London raising awareness of fake medicines at our partner the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers’ (IFPW) General Membership Meeting (15-16 Sept). We will be on hand to explain the risks fake medicines pose to public health and individuals to supply chain experts from around the world. With the help of students from UCL School of Pharmacy, we’ll have a booth that’s both fun and informative, sharing information Read more…

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, has proposed a strategy aimed at strengthening National Medicine Regulatory Authorities (NMRAs) in order to ensure that only safe, good quality and effective medical products are available in countries. The strategy was presented at the annual meeting of Health Ministers from the WHO African Region (the 66th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa) in Addis Ababa, 19-23 August 2016. Learn more at Read more…

On 13 July 2016, Fight the Fakes continued the discussion with stakeholders engaged in the fight against fake medicines in Europe, attending a workshop organized by the European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network (EHFCN) and hosted at Europol. The stakeholder meeting saw presentations from Europol, Interpol, the Council of Europe, MITRE Corporation and others, each showcasing their efforts to combat the distribution of dangerous fake medicines and improve coordination between parties. Fight the Fakes partners Read more…

Just before summer vacations and the departure of numerous French holiday makers abroad, IRACM together with the French National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), the National Union of the Students in Pharmacy of France (ANEPF), the French National Pharmacists Council (ONP) and the French anti-piracy committee (CNAC) launched on June 28, 2016 a nationwide campaign to raise awareness among the general public about good habits to adopt in relation to medications before their travel, at Read more…

To download the full study from Health Policy Planning, click here. Abstract of “Public health interventions to protect against falsified medicines: A systematic review of international, national, and local policies” Falsified medicines are deliberately fraudulent drugs that pose a direct risk to patient health and undermine healthcare systems, causing global morbidity and mortality. Objective: To produce an overview of anti-falsifying public health interventions deployed at international, national, and local scales in low and middle income Read more…