156th WHO Executive Board (EB156): Fight the Fakes Alliance statement on substandard and falsified products
On 7 February 2025 at the EB156 in Geneva, the Fight the Fakes Alliance delivered a statement on substandard and falsified medical products. IFPMA is a member of Fight the Fakes Alliance.
The World Heart Federation, supported by the Fight the Fakes Alliance, welcomes the independent evaluation of the Member State Mechanism on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products.
Globally, countries waste an estimated 30.5 USD billion annually on substandard and falsified medical products. In addition, WHO estimates that 1 in 10 medicines in low- and middle-income countries are substandard or falsified, endangering lives and eroding trust in health systems.[i]
We strongly support the recommendation on improving external engagement with non-State actors, such as our alliance, and call on WHO to continue its work against substandard and falsified medical products. We stand ready to work with Member States, WHO, civil society, regulatory agencies, law enforcement, custom officers, manufacturers, distributors, healthcare workers, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure universal access to safe, effective, and high-quality medical products.
[i] According to WHO latest data from Dec 2024: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/substandard-and-falsified-medical-products#:~:text=At%20least%201%20in%2010,online%20or%20in%20informal%20markets.
a joint statement BY:
About IFPMA
IFPMA represents the innovative pharmaceutical industry at the international level, engaging in official relations with the United Nations and multilateral organizations. Our vision is to ensure that scientific progress translates into the next generation of medicines and vaccines that deliver a healthier future for people everywhere.
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