Worldwide campaign to protect patients from fake medicines
Fake medicines increasingly put patients and the general public
at risk across the world. In response to this challenge, ten global health organisations1, including
the International Council of Nurses (ICN), have joined forces to raise awareness about the
dangers of fake medicines.
The Fight the Fakes (www.fightfakes.org) campaign will create a global movement of
organisations and individuals that will speak up and help spread the word about this underreported,
yet growing threat to public health. The campaign aims to give a voice to those who
have been personally impacted and share the stories of those working to put a stop to this threat
to public health. Fight the Fakes supports the World Health Organization (WHO) Mechanism to
combat Substandard/Spurious/Falsely-labelled/Falsified/Counterfeit Medical Products and calls
for international, multi-stakeholder collaboration under WHO's leadership.
Fake medicines put patients and the general public at risk. Patients believe they are receiving
genuine treatment, when instead they are getting potentially dangerous products that could
increase resistance to real treatments, cause further illness, disability or even death.
Furthermore, fake medicines pose a public health danger by contributing to development of
treatment resistance.
“ICN takes fake and sub-standard medicines very seriously, as do our colleagues in this
campaign, said David Benton, ICN’s Chief Executive Officer. “In fact, since 2005, we have been
developing materials and raising awareness of the threat of fake medicines. Today, we are
stepping up that effort and joining the call to health care professionals, patients, pharmaceutical
companies, governments and the general public to work together to draw attention to the
dangers posed by fake medicines. ICN believes that only with a system-wide effort involving all
players, and a long-term view to solutions will we combat this serious threat to patient safety.”
While people in low- and middle-income communities are often at greater risk than those in high income
ones, fake medicines are a global problem and are reported in virtually every region of
the world. Fake medicines are reported in virtually every region of the world. In high income
countries, incidence of fake medicines is less than 1% of market value according to the estimates of the countries concerned2. Figures about sales of fake medicines rise to 10% globally, but in some areas of Asia, Africa and Latin America fake medicines may account for up to 30% of medicines in circulation3. In Africa, one-third of all malaria medicines are probably fake4. It is estimated that one medicine in two purchased on illegal Internet sites that hide their hysical address is fake5.
Nearly any type of pharmaceutical product can be and has been counterfeited: whether
lifesaving medicines including those used to treat malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart
disease, diabetes and other life-threatening conditions or 'lifestyle' medicines, including erectile
dysfunction and weight loss medicines.
The negative impact of fake medicines is widespread and the environment in which the
manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and consumption of these counterfeit products takes
place is complex, making it more difficult to address this challenge. In launching this new
campaign, partners share the belief that to address this public health threat, public awareness
and coordinated actions among all actors involved in the manufacturing and distribution of
medicines are vital. Partners will bring to bear their experience, knowledge and insights, and
work together to protect patients across all regions of the world and call for the creation and strict
application of legislative and regulatory frameworks to effectively combat this global threat.
Nurses are on the frontlines of health, administering and often prescribing medicines, particularly
in primary health care settings. They are well positioned to monitor drug effects and side effects
and must be vigilant for signs of counterfeiting such as improper packaging and labelling. Nurses
also have a key role in educating the public about the dangers of buying medicines through the
Internet or on the streets from unauthorized sources.
As part of this effort, the campaign website (www.fightfakes.org) highlights the stories of people
whose lives have been impacted by fake medicines and of people who are working to stop this
crime in order to raise the profile of the dangers and impact of fake medicines in our
communities. The website also serves as a resource for organisations and individuals who are
looking to support this effort by sharing resources, outlining opportunities for action and reporting
what others are doing to fight fake medicines.
Participation in the Fight the Fakes campaign is open to all involved in public health and already
active in combating fake medicines, but also to those from other walks of life eager to join the
fight against fake medicines.
To join the campaign, please visit www.fightfakes.org.
Partners of the campaign include:
International Council of Nurses (ICN)
International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA)
International Institute on Research Against Counterfeit Medicines (IRACM)
The Fondation Chirac
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)
NCD Alliance
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
U.S. Pharmacopeia Convention (USP)
World Heart Federation
World Medical Association (WMA)
Source: http://www.icn.ch/images/stories/documents/news/press_releases/2013_PR_21_Fight_the_Fakes.pdf
Fake medicines increasingly put patients and the general public
at risk across the world. In response to this challenge, ten global health organisations1, including
the International Council of Nurses (ICN), have joined forces to raise awareness about the
dangers of fake medicines.
The Fight the Fakes (www.fightfakes.org) campaign will create a global movement of
organisations and individuals that will speak up and help spread the word about this underreported,
yet growing threat to public health. The campaign aims to give a voice to those who
have been personally impacted and share the stories of those working to put a stop to this threat
to public health. Fight the Fakes supports the World Health Organization (WHO) Mechanism to
combat Substandard/Spurious/Falsely-labelled/Falsified/Counterfeit Medical Products and calls
for international, multi-stakeholder collaboration under WHO's leadership.
Fake medicines put patients and the general public at risk. Patients believe they are receiving
genuine treatment, when instead they are getting potentially dangerous products that could
increase resistance to real treatments, cause further illness, disability or even death.
Furthermore, fake medicines pose a public health danger by contributing to development of
treatment resistance.
“ICN takes fake and sub-standard medicines very seriously, as do our colleagues in this
campaign, said David Benton, ICN’s Chief Executive Officer. “In fact, since 2005, we have been
developing materials and raising awareness of the threat of fake medicines. Today, we are
stepping up that effort and joining the call to health care professionals, patients, pharmaceutical
companies, governments and the general public to work together to draw attention to the
dangers posed by fake medicines. ICN believes that only with a system-wide effort involving all
players, and a long-term view to solutions will we combat this serious threat to patient safety.”
While people in low- and middle-income communities are often at greater risk than those in high income
ones, fake medicines are a global problem and are reported in virtually every region of
the world. Fake medicines are reported in virtually every region of the world. In high income
countries, incidence of fake medicines is less than 1% of market value according to the estimates of the countries concerned2. Figures about sales of fake medicines rise to 10% globally, but in some areas of Asia, Africa and Latin America fake medicines may account for up to 30% of medicines in circulation3. In Africa, one-third of all malaria medicines are probably fake4. It is estimated that one medicine in two purchased on illegal Internet sites that hide their hysical address is fake5.
Nearly any type of pharmaceutical product can be and has been counterfeited: whether
lifesaving medicines including those used to treat malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart
disease, diabetes and other life-threatening conditions or 'lifestyle' medicines, including erectile
dysfunction and weight loss medicines.
The negative impact of fake medicines is widespread and the environment in which the
manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and consumption of these counterfeit products takes
place is complex, making it more difficult to address this challenge. In launching this new
campaign, partners share the belief that to address this public health threat, public awareness
and coordinated actions among all actors involved in the manufacturing and distribution of
medicines are vital. Partners will bring to bear their experience, knowledge and insights, and
work together to protect patients across all regions of the world and call for the creation and strict
application of legislative and regulatory frameworks to effectively combat this global threat.
Nurses are on the frontlines of health, administering and often prescribing medicines, particularly
in primary health care settings. They are well positioned to monitor drug effects and side effects
and must be vigilant for signs of counterfeiting such as improper packaging and labelling. Nurses
also have a key role in educating the public about the dangers of buying medicines through the
Internet or on the streets from unauthorized sources.
As part of this effort, the campaign website (www.fightfakes.org) highlights the stories of people
whose lives have been impacted by fake medicines and of people who are working to stop this
crime in order to raise the profile of the dangers and impact of fake medicines in our
communities. The website also serves as a resource for organisations and individuals who are
looking to support this effort by sharing resources, outlining opportunities for action and reporting
what others are doing to fight fake medicines.
Participation in the Fight the Fakes campaign is open to all involved in public health and already
active in combating fake medicines, but also to those from other walks of life eager to join the
fight against fake medicines.
To join the campaign, please visit www.fightfakes.org.
Partners of the campaign include:
International Council of Nurses (ICN)
International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA)
International Institute on Research Against Counterfeit Medicines (IRACM)
The Fondation Chirac
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)
NCD Alliance
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
U.S. Pharmacopeia Convention (USP)
World Heart Federation
World Medical Association (WMA)
Source: http://www.icn.ch/images/stories/documents/news/press_releases/2013_PR_21_Fight_the_Fakes.pdf
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