The year 2015 ended on a positive note for IRACM as we developed several projects to intensify our fight against fake medicines and their distribution throughout the world. Our institute is giving priority to informing the general public through national and international campaigns on fake and counterfeit medicines, while continuing our key activities of training, educating on the ground, establishing partnerships, and studying the spread of the phenomenon.
For the traffic of illicit, fake and counterfeit medicines, the year’s record is distressing. According to the figures collected by IRACM in 2015, nearly 100 million pills were seized, over 200 illegal pharmacies and 3,400 websites or online pharmacies were closed, and finally seven people died from taking illegal medicines (five of whom in the fourth quarter alone) [1]. A dismal track record!
The fact is that the traffic is developing and increasing. The production, trafficking and distribution of fake medicines is on the rise, whether on Internet or supplied in street markets in developing countries, or by repackaging and reselling out-of-date medicines. This type of business provides “edifying” profits and is so scarcely sanctioned that organised crime obviously intends to take advantage of it – as do ‘petty’ criminals, who are interested in the huge profits to be made.
Now, it is vital that governments are aware of the problem and become truly involved in 2016. We call for real strategies to be adopted and for progress in suitable legislations, and we need a maximum number of countries to ratify the Medicrime Convention. This instrument came into force on 1 January 2016 in the five States that ratified it. This trend must continue and IRACM recommends that this convention and the Palermo Convention be used. For the common good, it is both essential and urgent to criminalise the counterfeiting and trafficking, as they pose a terrible threat to global public health.
In response to this, we at IRACM are repeating our desire to continue our projects, intensify our action and extend our network of partnerships to increase our chances of winning the fight against traffickers of fake medicines. We are counting on your support and involvement.
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[1] According to the figures listed in our news sections.