It seems every 4 to 5 months there’s news about a counterfeit drug incident in the US.
Bloggers Note: Without a doubt this subject requires the attention and dedication of those in direct stewardship of the pharmaceutical and medical products we depend on in the United States and the rest of the globe. I have been most fortunate to serve in a very focused support capacity from time to time which helps me appreciate both the size of the issue and the importance of on-going vigilance. It is for that reason I post this information. The pursuit of corporate anti-counterfeiting strategies and actions is the realm of the true experts in this field. Leave it to them to do their good work. Let the rest of us be on our guard and be as informed as we can.
Just this last February it was a well know cancer treatment drug. All things considered, that’s a rare occurrence. In fact, the World Health Organization reports, “In most industrialized countries (i.e. Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, most of the European Union and the United States of America), incidence of SFFC [counterfeit] medicines is extremely low – less than 1% of market value according to the estimates of the countries concerned”.
WHO reports also indicate, “In many African countries, and in parts of Asia, Latin America, and countries in transition, a much higher percentage of the medicines on sale may be SFFC [counterfeit]. Not only is there a huge variation between geographic regions in terms of incidence of SFFC [counterfeit] medicines, variation can also be significant within countries: for example, between urban and rural areas, and between cities”.
Some companies have done an outstanding job of meeting this challenge by applying sound business practices. Doing it right takes leadership, commitment and dedicated resources. Make no mistake…it takes time, dedication and the right resource commitment. But, once on the right road the challenges aren’t as daunting and the solutions aren’t as far out of reach. We can all help by being watchful and letting the right people know when we see a problem with any of our drugs or medical products. Don’t wish it won’t happen…be aware, get good information and take action when it’s needed.