UNODC Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, 22nd session

IFPMA statement under item 7 of the provisional agenda on World crime trends and emerging issues and responses in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice Countering fraudulent medicines, in particular their trafficking

Delivered by Cyntia Genolet, Policy Analyst, Public Affairs and Global Health Policy

Thank you on behalf of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), for the opportunity to provide our perspective on this public health issue related to fraudulent medicines. IFPMA represents the global R&D pharmaceutical industry, whose primary contribution to global health is the development of innovative medicines and vaccines.

IFPMA supports the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Fraudulent medicines are first and foremost a crime against patient and it is only right that we should expect the international community to tackle it with the same vigor as other criminal issues.

IFPMA calls for effective legislation allowing tougher sanctions and effective enforcement against providers, conveyers and facilitators of fraudulent medicines. We support the strong efforts in this direction represented by the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime as well as the Council of Europe Medicrime Convention.

We believe that now it is the moment to make all the necessary steps to agree on a global agenda which puts patients’ safety at its core. Decisive and concerted actions should be taken against this crime to public health. IFPMA welcomes the inclusive approach taken by UNODC and encourages that all stakeholders across the pharmaceutical supply chain collaborate. All public and private organizations; national regulatory and enforcement agencies; health professionals; patients; research-based and generic pharmaceutical manufacturers; drug distributors; wholesalers and retailers; all play a role in preventing fraudulent medicines from reaching patients.

The experience in fighting the trade and the existence of this serious crime threatening global public health shows that this is an issue which requires multi-stakeholder and multidisciplinary collaboration both at the local and the global levels. As a partner in global health, we stand ready to play our part in sharing our expertise.

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.

To achieve this, we act as a trusted partner, bringing our members' expertise to champion pharmaceutical innovation, drive policy that supports the research, development, and delivery of health technologies, and create sustainable solutions that advance global health.

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Media Contact

Elliot Dunster e.dunster@ifpma.org