Health Brief

WHO LAUNCHES TASKFORCE TO FIGHT THRIVING MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR COUNTERFEIT DRUG TRADE

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The World Health Organization (WHO) with more than 20 international partners has launched a campaign to help member countries protect their citizens from the dangers of counterfeit medicines.

Named IMPACT, an acronym for International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce, the program covers legislation, law enforcement, regulation, technology and communication.
IMPACT has issued a warning against buying medicines from “rogue” web sites and is cautioning governments that existing laws against medical counterfeiters are inadequate and do not act as deterrents.

Counterfeit medicines range from products containing no active ingredients to those containing highly toxic substances. They can harm patients by failing to treat serious conditions, can provoke drug resistance and, in some cases, they can kill.

More than 30 percent of medicines in some areas of Latin America, South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are counterfeit. In emerging economies, the proportion is estimated at 10 percent, but in many of the former Soviet republics it can be as high as 20%. In wealthy countries, with strong regulatory mechanisms, counterfeits account for less than 1 percent of the market value.

Internet Drug Sales Are the Worst

As much as 50 percent of drugs sold on “rogue” web sites are counterfeit, according to WHO. The legal systems of most countries do not consider the counterfeiting of medicines a more serious crime than counterfeiting luxury items such as handbags or watches. Their laws are designed mainly to protect trademarks than people’s health. In some industrialized countries, counterfeiting t-shirts receives a harsher punishment than counterfeiting medicines.

WHO and its IMPACT partners will present guiding principles for model legislation to help countries adapt their laws to the gravity of the crime.

“The impact on people’s lives behind these figures is devastating,” said Dr. Howard Zucker, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals. “Whether rich or poor, many patients trustingly taking medicines may end up sicker or die. In addition, precious resources spent on these medicines go to waste.”

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SOURCE: http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/9/06-0 10906/en/