IP Outreach Research > IP Crime
Reference
| Title: | What should be done about counterfeit medicines? |
| Author: | [PatientView] |
| Source: | |
| Year: | 2007 |
Details
| Subject/Type: | Counterfeiting |
| Focus: | Medicines and Medical Devices |
| Country/Territory: | Belgium, France, Germany, International, Italy, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), United Kingdom |
| Objective: | To discover views on counterfeit medicines in Europe and strategies to combat them. |
| Sample: | 236 executives of patient organisations and other health campaigners from 34 European countries |
| Methodology: | E-mail survey |
Main Findings
55% of surveyed patient/health advocacy groups believe that trade in counterfeit medicines is a minor problem; 27% consider it no problem at all, and 18% a serious problem.
83% of respondents report receiving no information from the public about counterfeit medicines. 17% have received either few or some reports from the public concerning counterfeit medicines.
Just 4% say that media coverage about counterfeit medicines is regular; 65% report that their country’s media rarely or never carry stories about counterfeit medicines. Seven in ten participants are unaware of any national or international initiatives on counterfeit medicines.
Majorities of respondents are in favour of the following measures to prevent counterfeit medicines: better tracking/testing of medicines leaving the manufacturer before reaching the end-user; efforts to raise the public’s awareness of counterfeit medicines; and more enforcement of regulations/legislation. Respondents would like the following individuals or agencies to do more to prevent counterfeit medicines: Internet-based suppliers; pharmaceutical companies; drug regulatory agencies; governments / ministries of health; and wholesalers.
[Date Added: Apr 3, 2009 ]