US and Russian Health Orgs Pledge Cooperation Against Counterfeits

United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development of the Russian Federation on September 22, 2011 to establish a process for the organizations to collaborate to improve drug quality internationally.

At a signing ceremony in New York, Dr. V. I. Skvortsova, deputy minister of healthcare and social development for Russia, and Dr. Roger L. Williams, CEO of USP, agreed to facilitate information exchange when contaminated or adulterated medications cause emergencies, exchange scientific staff to promote training, hold joint seminars and forums, and promote modern laboratory standards.

The MOU also includes the possible development of third-party certification programs for medicine ingredients, quality control and good laboratory practices education and training programs, and development and sharing of reference material.

Both organizations are the official pharmacopeias of their countries and develop the standards for identity, strength, quality and purity of medicines and their ingredients.

“Partnerships and strong alliances between nations are critical as pharmaceuticals become an increasingly globalized industry,” said Dr. Williams. “In particular, as we all collectively grapple with the risks posed by substandard and counterfeit medicines, the importance of information sharing, joint scientific work, modern standards and coordinated responses becomes even more pronounced.”

By S. Imber