WHO Tries to Fight the Silent Epidemic of Counterfeit Drugs
http://www.healthmedicalresources.com/articles/21/1/WHO-Tries-to-Fight-the-Silent-Epidemic-of-Counterfeit-Drugs/Page1.html
Carl Hruza
By Carl Hruza
Published on September 8th, 2008
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is consistently forging ahead to amass global cooperation, honest political support and effectively creative solutions to fight the havoc that is being created throughout the world by counterfeit medicines. The WHO international conference in Rome is aimed at developing a global task force that will duly focus upon the pivotal aspects of legislation, law enforcement and innovative solutions of technology.
WHO Tries to Fight the Silent Epidemic of Counterfeit Drugs
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is consistently forging ahead to amass global cooperation, honest political support and effectively creative solutions to fight the havoc that is being created throughout the world by counterfeit medicines. The WHO international conference in Rome is aimed at developing a global task force that will duly focus upon the pivotal aspects of legislation, law enforcement and innovative solutions of technology.
WHO assistant director general for health technology and pharmaceuticals, Dr Howard Zucker, quoted, “People don’t die from carrying a fake handbag or wearing a fake t-shirt. They can die from taking a counterfeit medicine. International police action against the factories and distribution networks should be as uncompromising as that applied to the pursuit of narcotic smuggling.”
Reliable estimates reveal that almost 10% of the medicine trade world wide is occupied by counterfeit drugs. The US Center for Medicines has revealed a shocking prediction in the interest of public that the sale of counterfeit drugs could reach up to $75 billion in the year 2010, which is indicative of a staggering increase of 92% from the year 2005. The considerable amounts of money that is involved in this trade clearly reveals the fact that criminal networks are becoming attached to pharmaceuticals at an ever increasing pace. Their use of ultra-sophisticated ways to dodge detection makes it tougher for police to track them down.
The WHO is striving to devise ways to better inform and educate patients, health care workers and pharmacists, in their relentless struggle against the spread of counterfeit drugs, particularly in those countries that are faced with weak drug regulation control and enforcement. Dr Zucker also said, “These measures need to be intensified. Countries should think about ways to make the necessary technological, legislative and financial adjustments as quickly as possible to guarantee the availability of quality assured essential drugs.”
Participants at this prestigious Rome conference had participants in the form of experts and representatives from the governments of various nations and regulatory authorities from the industry, intergovernmental organizations, and most importantly, consumer and patient groups.
WHO assistant director general for health technology and pharmaceuticals, Dr Howard Zucker, quoted, “People don’t die from carrying a fake handbag or wearing a fake t-shirt. They can die from taking a counterfeit medicine. International police action against the factories and distribution networks should be as uncompromising as that applied to the pursuit of narcotic smuggling.”
Reliable estimates reveal that almost 10% of the medicine trade world wide is occupied by counterfeit drugs. The US Center for Medicines has revealed a shocking prediction in the interest of public that the sale of counterfeit drugs could reach up to $75 billion in the year 2010, which is indicative of a staggering increase of 92% from the year 2005. The considerable amounts of money that is involved in this trade clearly reveals the fact that criminal networks are becoming attached to pharmaceuticals at an ever increasing pace. Their use of ultra-sophisticated ways to dodge detection makes it tougher for police to track them down.
The WHO is striving to devise ways to better inform and educate patients, health care workers and pharmacists, in their relentless struggle against the spread of counterfeit drugs, particularly in those countries that are faced with weak drug regulation control and enforcement. Dr Zucker also said, “These measures need to be intensified. Countries should think about ways to make the necessary technological, legislative and financial adjustments as quickly as possible to guarantee the availability of quality assured essential drugs.”
Participants at this prestigious Rome conference had participants in the form of experts and representatives from the governments of various nations and regulatory authorities from the industry, intergovernmental organizations, and most importantly, consumer and patient groups.