Policy/Enforcement News
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…
[...]Matheson and Bilbray Sponsor Counterfeit Medicine Bill
Congressmen Jim Matheson of Utah and Brian Bilbray of California have re-introduced a bill to improve authorities abilities to address the counterfeit medicine problem.
[...]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…
[...]Canadian Police Warn Residents of Counterfeit Medicines Sold Online
Newfoundland and Labrador police are warning local residents not to purchase medications from unlicensed online vendors. Says Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt Boyd Merrill, “The fake pill industry… has sales in the billions of dollars and people in Newfoundland and Labrador are getting scammed as much as the rest of the world,” reports the CBC…
[...]Partnership for Safe Medicines Interchange Speaker Announced: FDA’s Deborah Autor
Deborah Autor, Deputy Commissioner for Global Regulatory Operations and Policy for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will speak at the 2nd annual Partnership for Safe Medicine’s Interchange on October 27, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Autor leads a Directorate newly created in July 2011 which includes the Office of Regulatory…
[...]Fake Medicine From China and India Intercepted by UK Border Agency
A British resident was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment for the importation and possession of counterfeit medicine in Northampton Crown Court. Victor Cheke, 42, was convicted of importing packages of medicinal products originating from China and India which were intercepted by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) en route to Cheke. Analysis of the drugs revealed…
[...]Larry Page Knew About Unlicensed Online Pharmacy Ads, Says US Attorney
As part of the Department of Justice’s settlement with Google for $500 million for accepting advertising money from unlicensed online pharmacies, the DOJ has agreed to seal from the public evidence of wrong doing by Google executives, including CEO Larry Page. The Justice Department said that the advertisements led to illegal imports of prescription drugs…
[...]Canadian Doctor Convicted of Bringing Unapproved Medicine Into US to Treat NFL and MLB Players
A Toronto doctor pleaded guilty to felony charges of smuggling unapproved drugs into the US to treat American professional football and baseball players. Dr. Anthony Galea, 51, faces a maximum sentenced of three years in prison and $500,000 of fines and forfeitures, for providing unapproved medical treatments to professional athletes, including players in the National…
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