Policy/Enforcement News
European States Sign International Counterfeit Medicine Treaty
Russia, France, Germany and other European countries signed the first ever international treaty to combat the counterfeit medicine industry . Developed in 2010, the Council of Europe created a binding international instrument based upon the Right to Life provision in the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Signatories of the treaty agree to…
[...]USP to Help Russians Fight Counterfeit Medicine
The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) has released an updated Russian translation of its National Formulary at the Russian Pharmmedobraschenie Conference in Moscow on October 26, 2011. USP is a nonprofit, scientific organization that develops quality standards for medicines. Its National Formulary publishes standards to support the testing of medicinal products and ingredients. In the US, USP’s…
[...]FDA Philippines Warns: Watch Out For Fake Drugs
The Philippines Bureau of Food and Drug Administration (BFAD) helpd workshops in Batangas to educate consumers about the risks and prevalence of counterfeit medicines. BFAD is working on a long-term public education campaign to teach people not to purchase medications from unregulated sources. Rowena Tupas of the BFAD said that counterfeit medications are thriving because…
[...]Medicare Part D Protecting Seniors from Online Drug Scams
Lower costs for prescription drugs for seniors on Medicare Part D has lowered online victims of counterfeit medicine as well. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy executive director, Carmen Catizone, told Fox News, “Thankfully, we haven’t seen as many seniors being taken advantage of [by fake online pharmacies] since Medicare Part D began offering more…
[...]Bargain Hunters Can’t Outsmart the Fake Medicine Criminals
Fox News conducted a question and answer session with experts in medicine about the real risks and dangers to consumers from counterfeit medicines in the market. With a nod to PSM’s 2010 Interchange, Fox quoted Dr. Margaret Hamburg’s keynote speech at the Interchange: “In some parts of the world, somewhere between 30% and 50% of…
[...]Sen. Vitter’s Proposed Amendment Raises Drug Safety Concerns
[The Senate is marking up the House's Agricultural Appropriations Bill (HR 2112). They are considering an amendment (#769) proposed by Senator Vitter which would allow for drug importation. The Partnership for Safe Medicines sent this letter to all members of the Senate today to urge them to oppose importation.] Dear Senator, As a public health group…
[...]Researchers Show Fake Medicine Spammers Infiltrating Twitter
A new study by the University of Akron shows Twitter is a new forum for spammers to reach potential clients in counterfeit medicine scams. Say researchers Chandra Shekar, Kathy J. Liszka, and Chien-Chung Chan, “Spammers have pounced on this new opportunity for a fast and dishonest dollar, disseminating pornography, fake lotteries, fake inheritances, counterfeit watches,…
[...]PSM Executive Director Headlines Brazil Counterfeit Medicines Forum
PSM Executive Director Scott LaGanga joined public and private sector leaders from across Brazil today to discuss the critical need to address the growing and borderless counterfeit medicines epidemic, an issue that Brazilian Justice Minister José Eduardo Cardozo called “one of the most important to Brazilian society.”
The event, hosted by Interfarma and O Globo, featured the Brazilian Institute of Public Opinion and Statistics (IBOPE) release of a national opinion survey which found that more education is needed to ensure that consumers are informed of the dangers associated with counterfeit medicines.
According to the survey, nearly 30 percent of Brazilian consumers do not verify if a prescribed or over-the-counter medicine is still within its due date. More than half “ignore the security seal.”
“By no means is this issue getting any easier to address,” said Scott LaGanga. “To be effective in the long-term, we need global collaboration on the part of both government and the private sector. Only then can we put our best foot forward in protecting millions of patients from the life-threatening risks associated with counterfeit drugs.”
IAPO Seminar in Manilla Raises Awareness of Unsafe Medications
The International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO) conducted a seminar to build better understanding of patients needs in Pacific-Asia including the risks of counterfeit medications. “Patients should be the local leaders of a whole of society approach to tackling the pressing healthcare challenges of today,” announced IAPO at the seminar in Manilla, Philippines. The IAPO…
[...]PSM Board Members Attend APEC Life Science Innovation Forum
Partnership for Safe Medicines represented the medicine safety community worldwide at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Life Science Innovation Forum on Detection Technology in Beijing, China in September. The Life Science Innovation Forum (LSIF) is APEC’s leading initative on health and health sciences innovation, engaging government, industry and academia to improve life sciences innovation policies. Partnership…
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