CNE logo


A CNE EVENT IN COOPERATION WITH
PACIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE

'A False Sense of Security'
The Growing Threat of Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Products

 



A transcript of this event is now available here in PDF format.

Download MP3 Audio Files of This Event
(13m04s, 6.1MB)
(14m21s, 6.7MB)
(29m59s, 14MB)
(18m40s, 8.7MB)
(27m05s, 12.7MB)
(18h38s, 8.7MB)
(26m33s, 12.4MB)
(15m47s, 7.4MB)



The Issue

The business of creating, distributing and selling counterfeit pharmaceutical products is an unregulated, criminal and growing part of the global economy. There is one major difference between pharmaceutical counterfeiting and other underground industries: lives are at stake.

Not only is evidence mounting in Canada and the United States; threatening numbers are developing around the globe. According to a 1997 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), 10%-20% of drugs tested in developing countries failed the most basic quality test, meaning the medicines are either counterfeit or that they have not been handled according to manufacturer specifications.

In Europe, in practice otherwise known as parallel trade or re-importation, profiteers masquerading as pharmacists are selling unsafe, unregulated, mislabelled, repacked and co-mingled drugs to unsuspecting consumers.

Imagine living in a world where doctors were afraid to write prescriptions because it was unclear whether or not the pharmacy had genuine, "real" pharmaceuticals on its shelves. Such a future is conceivable if the counterfeit pharmaceutical industry is allowed to continue its growth.



The Speakers

Philip Stevens, Health Programme Director, International Policy Network
Philip Stevens is the author of numerous health policy publications, including The Real Determinants of Health (2005) and The 10/90 Gap and the diseases of poverty (2004). His writings on health policy have appeared in a wide range of international newspapers. Philip has also held research positions at the Adam Smith Institute and Reform in London, and spent several years as a management consultant. He holds degrees from the London School of Economics and Durham University.

Dr Jonathan Harper, Principal Consultant to Council of Europe Counterfeit Medicines Committee
Dr Jonathan Harper was the author of the Council of Europe's 2005 report on counterfeit pharmaceuticals 'Harmonised provisions for legislative and administrative procedures applicable to counterfeit medicines in the Council of Europe Member States. Since 2004 he has worked as principle consultant to the Council of Europe on Counterfeit Medicines and as adviser to the National Institute of Pharmacy, Hungary. He has undertaken health policy assignments in several other countries including Croatia, Germany, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Peter J. Pitts, Senior Fellow, Health Care Studies, Pacific Research Institute
Peter Pitts is Senior Fellow for Healthcare Studies and Director of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest at the Pacific Research Institute. He also serves as Senior Vice President for Global Health Affairs at Manning, Selvage & Lee. From 2002-2004 Peter was FDA's Associate Commissioner for External Relations, serving as the agency's "Chief Messaging Officer." He teaches as an adjunct professor at Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Prof. David Taylor, University of London School of Pharmacy
David Taylor is Professor of Pharmaceutical and Public Health Policy at The School of Pharmacy, University of London and Chair of Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust. In this role he is responsible for the governance of an NHS organisation spending well over £100 million annually. He is also on the Department of Health's Medicines Management Advisory Group, and was recently a member of the joint DTI/DoH Advisory Group on the Reform of NHS Pharmaceutical Services.

Graham Satchwell, Managing Director, Proco Solutions Ltd.
Graham Satchwell is a former British Police Service detective superintendent, author of the Stockholm Network's publication A Sick Business, which examined the counterfeit pharmaceutical trade, and specialist pharmaceutical industry anti-counterfeiting investigative strategy consultant. For several years to 1999, Graham was the official spokesperson (on IPR crime) for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) England & Wales. He is the chief architect and author of the UK 'Memorandum of Understanding' between all police forces in UK, Customs authorities and other law enforcement agencies, brand-owners and industry groups on the investigation of counterfeiting of branded goods.

Dr Michael Tremblay, Tremblay Consulting
Dr Mike Tremblay is a specialist in health policy, and has developed specific ways to help clients develop, assess and improve policy and strategy. His clientele include governments, health providers, payers, pharmaceutical, medical device and information technology companies, retailers, and professional organizations. Mike has over 25 years of international health experience including 15 years in the European Union. He established Tremblay Consulting in 1997.



Event Details

Photo : Brussels Renaissance Hotel
Click here for a printable map
to the Renaissance.

Wednesday, 15 February 2006
Renaissance Hotel
Rue du Parnasse 19, Brussels

09:00 Welcome coffee
11:00 Break
13:00 Lunch buffet

If you would like to attend, please
send an e-mail to Cécile Philippe.
Please specify any dietary restrictions for the menu.

The Centre for the New Europe AISBL is a non-profit, non-partisan research foundation headquartered in Brussels.