IPSF AfRO Resolution on Falsified and Substandard Medicines in Africa

06.12.2020

Resolution on Falsified and Substandard Medicines in Africa

 

The IPSF AfRO Regional Assembly, 

 

Alarmed by the high prevalence of substandard and falsified medicines in Africa with the region accounting for 42% of the global cases,

 

Concerned by the significant impact that substandard and falsified medicines have on human morbidity and mortality including their contribution to antimicrobial resistance, 

 

Bearing in mind that the region’s weak economies, poor healthcare systems and weak regulatory systems have contributed to the surge in the substandard and falsified medicines in Africa,

 

Recognizing that substandard and falsified medicines are a threat to global health and global economies,

  1. Encourages IPSF AfRO Member organizations to conduct public health awareness campaigns on Substandard and Falsified Medicines, especially at the local level, to inform and make the public more knowledgeable on how to identify and report substandard and falsified medicines, the common sources and the risks and impacts of these medicines;
  2. Requests academic institutions to comprehensively train pharmacy students on Substandard and Falsified medicines by incorporating the subject in the pharmacy curricula;
  3. Encourages the establishment of a regional regulatory focal point network to facilitate collection and compilation of regional data on Substandard and Falsified medicines and the sharing of best practices between National Medicines Regulatory Authorities; 
  4. Emphasizes the need of strong National Medicines Regulatory Authorities that are adequately funded to ensure: 
  1. sufficient and effective training on Prevention, Detection and Response to Substandard and Falsified Medicines;
  2. adoption of appropriate Information Technological Tools to be used in the detection, control and reporting of Substandard and Falsified medicines;
  3. establishment of min-labs within countries and along the porous border entry points between countries to detect Substandard and Falsified Medicines;
  1. Trusts that Pharmaceutical industries will uphold the highest standards of Good

Manufacturing Practices, Good Distribution Practices and Good Pharmacovigilance Practices;

  1. Expresses its hope that Governments and Ministries of Health will strengthen national and local healthcare systems to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for all;
  2. Urges Governments to pass and or enforce legislation that criminalizes the manufacture, trade and distribution of Substandard and Falsified medicines with accompanying punitive damages including heavy penalties and imprisonments;
  3. Calls upon a multi-national and a multi-sectoral approach in stopping the illegal cross border trade of medicines; 
  4. Reminds pharmacists and future pharmacists of their ethical responsibility underpinned by the vow to serve humanity and act in the best interests of those they serve by ensuring their licenses are used to facilitate the import of quality, safe and effective medicines and vaccine;
  5. Strongly condemns corruption and any political interests in the manufacture, trade and distribution of medicines.