- Patients fail to take fake medicines risk seriously
- Health leaders urged to stay focused on counterfeit medicines
Patients fail to take fake medicines risk seriously
International call for patient group task force to fight growing fake medicines trade
26th October 2007 - Major international research, including the views of bodies that represent more than 121,000 patients across Europe, was unveiled today in Dublin, Ireland – one of the world’s biggest net exporters of pharmaceuticals. And a leading health campaigner has called for patient groups across Europe to unite to battle against the growing problem of fake (counterfeit) medicines that are entering the European market. 560,000 fake medicines were seized at the EU’s borders in 2005, a 100% increase from 2004 – it appears that there has been a three-fold increase for 2006.
The report ‘What should be done about counterfeit medicines’ reveals a worrying lack of knowledge among patients and patient organisations into the scale of the counterfeit medicines problem across Europe. 20% of the patient advocacy groups surveyed said that they have received reports of counterfeit medicines from their members (or from the public) and 18% of respondents think counterfeit medicines are a serious problem.
Presenting the findings, Stephen McMahon, chairman of the Irish Patients’ Association commented: ‘“The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that up to 10 per cent of all medicines are counterfeits, rising to 25% in some countries. This is a serious issue. We know thousands of men, women and children have died from fake medicines. My grave fear for patients everywhere is that the estimated seizures of medicines are no more than a few hours’ production capacity in the $35 billion a year counterfeit medicine pipeline. Be vigilant, let us all work together to combat this vile trade.’
Graham Satchwell, security expert and author of ‘A Sick Business: Counterfeit Medicines and Organized Crime’ commented at the launch: “Recent seizures of counterfeit medicines are the tip of the iceberg and the increase in counterfeiting and illegal trading across Europe poses a real threat internationally. As one of the world’s biggest net exporters of pharmaceuticals worldwide, with 12 of the world’s top 25 selling ‘blockbuster’ drugs manufactured in Ireland the country is strongly positioned to contribute to the fight against counterfeit medicines.
“The international counterfeiting of medicines is a growing threat to manufacturers, distributors, health professionals and pharmacists but most importantly of all to patients who are often trusting and may be exposed to physical danger. Fake medicines may include medicines from untraceable sources, with incorrect or no patient information leaflets, or containing ingredients that are a long way from what the doctor prescribed or the innocent patient believes they are taking.”
The survey, which was carried out by Together4Health in association with PatientView, also highlighted that most patient groups (80%) believe that pharmacists should not be able to buy their wholesale medicines from just any supplier, including the internet. This indicates that tighter control over the medicines supply chain is needed.
”We asked 236 executives of patient groups in 34 countries across Europe what they felt should be done to reduce the trade in counterfeit medicines. The responses were varied but telling and, I believe, would help form the basis of a Europe-wide agreement that could be adopted in association with IMPACT* partners and implemented at a local level,” added Mr Williams.
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Further information and press enquiries to:
Neil Fullbrook, Cadence Market Strategy, telephone: +44 (0) 207 847 4037Email: neil@theCadenceTeam.com
As the WHO’s World Alliance for Patient Safety meets tomorrow (6th September) in Dublin to work towards better case management through patient involvement, a leading patient advocate has urged health leaders to remember the threat from counterfeit medicines.
Patients for Patient Safety is a workshop being held to bring together patients, consumers and others interested in patient safety together, to discuss issues such as medical error and transparency of care.
But Simon Williams of Together4Health said that while all aspects of patient safety were important, it was vital to stay focused on a wide-ranging problem facing tens of thousands of patients every day.
‘We seem to be hearing continuous recalls of toys at the moment because of safety issues, and quite rightly so - but are we hearing enough about the large volumes of medicines that may well be counterfeit, from untraceable sources, with unreadable or totally absent patient information leaflets, or in formulations that could be a long way from what the doctor ordered?’ he said.
Together4Health is holding a conference next month, also in Dublin, to launch the results of a pan-European survey it commissioned from PatientView – showing the huge concerns surrounding counterfeit medicines reported by patient organisations in several countries including the UK.
The WHO has its own International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT) programme, but Simon said: ‘The messages from the WHO taskforce just aren’t reaching the patient groups despite the wide-ranging work that each of the partners is carrying out; I wonder if they are reaching patients.’
Further information and press enquiries to:
Neil Fullbrook, Cadence PR, Tel: 0207 847 4037 Email: neil@theCadenceTeam.com
Notes to editors:
Together4Health works with patients, primary care trusts, the healthcare industry, employees and employers, bringing together knowledge and understanding across the board. It’s a compact hub of shared learning and best practice in marketing, research and communication and brings together knowledge and skills from right across the healthcare sector – commercial and public. Together4Health has an unparalleled understanding of the needs of the end user.
www.togetherforhealth.co.uk
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