The head of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has said time and time again, global access to safe and quality medical products is a cornerstone of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The link between achieving Universal Health Coverage and substandard and falsified (SF) medical products must be made clear. Allowing Read more…
Christine Ro, Science Journalist at Forbes magazine, recently talked about the potential of new technology tools to protect patients from falsified and substandard medicines in Nigeria. The article explores the increasing availability of technology-driven solutions to combat counterfeit medicines and their potential impact in ensuring the authenticity and quality of Read more…
We are excited to announce that the Fight the Fake Alliance recently welcomed new leadership during the Ordinary General Assembly held on Friday, 5 May 2023. Andrea Vassalotti (World Heart Federation) was elected as the new Chair, while Géraldine Lissalde-Bonnet (GS1) and Christopher Goetz (IFPW) were elected as Vice-Chairs. The Read more…
Access to safe, effective, and quality medical products is essential for universal health coverage. However, substandard and falsified medical products are frequently introduced into the global supply chain, leading to adverse health effects and socioeconomic costs. These products are a persistent public health challenge that affects WHO member states worldwide. Read more…
The eleventh meeting of the Member State mechanism on substandard and falsified medical products was held in Geneva, Switzerland on 19 and 20 October 2022. The WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, opened the meeting and underscored the importance of access to safe and quality medical products as a cornerstone Read more…
The Medicine Quality Monitoring (MQM) Globe is a new interactive tool developed by the Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO) to track the quality of medical products across the world. The issue of substandard and falsified medicines is a serious concern, but surveillance of these products is limited in most parts Read more…
Illegal trade of substandard and false medicines in Europe mainly takes place online. The internet is used to sell medicines illegally and to spread false or misleading claims about the products being sold. Patients and consumers rarely check official websites to verify medical claims, making them susceptible to buying false Read more…
The WHO has issued a medical product alert for batches of eye ointment manufactured in India. The product was supplied to at least 55 countries under different labels. A visual examination of random samples by five international recipients showed a range of quality issues within various batches (e.g. different shaped, Read more…
The lack of formal training on substandard and falsified (SF) medical products among pharmacists is a significant problem that needs to be addressed to combat the global health threat represented by SF products. A recent study conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa among 355 pharmacy students shows t hat a dedicated educational Read more…
The UNODC Assessment of Trafficking in Medical Products in the Sahel brought to light a terrible situation of substandard and falsified medicines in the area. While there are no reliable estimates of the overall quantities of medical products that are trafficked in different ways and forms in the Sahel countries, Read more…