Leading Health Care, Law Enforcement and Government Officials Join with Industry and Patient Advocates to Assess State of Counterfeit Medicines
Dr. Margaret Hamburg, FDA Commissioner, delivering the keynote address at the 2012 Interchange.
Image courtesy of C-SPAN.
U.S. FDA Commissioner Hamburg Urges Physicians, Patients to Only Purchase Medicines from Reliable Sources to Better Protect Against Fake Drugs
Washington, D.C. (September 28, 2012) – The Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) today convened leading domestic and international stakeholders in the fight against counterfeit and substandard medicines, making a renewed commitment to work together and implement new solutions to protect patients worldwide. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg, in a keynote to the conference, highlighted new efforts her agency is undertaking to reduce the threat and pledged the FDA’s ongoing support to ensure a safe U.S. drug supply.
"The American people have every right to expect that the medicines they rely on are exactly what the package and label say they are – and that the medicines have been carefully evaluated by FDA for safety, efficacy, and quality," said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. "Our success in addressing this global challenge will depend on collaborating with public health and regulatory partners here in the United States and around the world."
The event brought together more than 140 participants, representing government, health care, law enforcement and patient advocacy. This is the third year that PSM has hosted a global Interchange event in Washington, D.C.
“This year’s Interchange was our boldest, most ambitious effort to date,” said PSM President Dr. Marvin D. Shepherd. “By bringing together stakeholders from as far away as India and Great Britain to share information and ideas on how to win the war on counterfeit medicines, we are sending a message to counterfeiters worldwide: the noose is tightening, and you can’t hide forever. As regulators and law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad come to grips with the great public health risk of fake drugs, our efforts and successes will only intensify in the future.”
PSM Executive Director Scott LaGanga.
Image courtesy of C-SPAN.
In addition to keynote speaker Hamburg, Interchange speakers included John Castellani, President and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and Ralph Neas, President and CEO of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA). The heads of the two largest pharmaceutical trade associations joined together for a panel discussion to highlight areas of cooperation between their respective industries, as well as ongoing worldwide efforts to stem the tide of counterfeit medicines infiltrating America’s borders. Stakeholders also heard from U.S. and UK government officials, as well as leading academics and patient advocates.
“In an increasingly global society, heightened cooperation and information-sharing between stakeholders around the world is an invaluable tool to help us identify and put a stop to the criminals who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens,” said PSM Treasurer Tom Kubic. “And as more allies join our cause, we are better able to spread our message and educate the public at large about the extreme risks of counterfeit medicines and how to protect themselves and their families.”
The complete Interchange is available online for viewing courtesy of C-Span.
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