At its first official meeting in Bonn, Germany, IMPACT will release the most recent estimates of the number of counterfeit products currently circulating on the world's markets, launch pilot programmes in three countries, and present a tool to strengthen countries' legislative capacity to deal with medical counterfeiting.
IMPACT is focused on five action areas embracing the different national and international sectors related to counterfeiting. These are: legislative and regulatory infrastructure; regulatory implementation; enforcement; technology; and risk communication.
Counterfeit medical products are a dangerous threat to the consuming public, especially in countries where regulatory mechanisms are weak.
(I’m from Asia, so I should know!)
It’s about time for a strong global initiative against this.
The global taskforce is made up of WHO Member States, on a voluntary basis, and more than 20 other major stakeholders, including Interpol, the World Customs Associations, patients' and medical organizations, The World Bank, the World Trade Organization and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations.
Whoaa...what a team! (Though I silently hope that they don't fall into bribery traps in the Philippines.)
Drug counterfeiters, you’re doomed!
Find more details from the WHO press release.
Comment Preview