The opening ceremony was attended by Guy Lallemand, Regional President for Africa and Middle East, Pfizer Inc. and Dr. Amin Al Amiri, CEO for Medical Practice and Licensee, UAE Ministry of Health.
More than 920 governmental officials from the Ministry of Health, police, Pharmaceutical sector, customs from the across the Middle East attended the Regional Conference on Fighting Counterfeit Medicines organized by the UAE Ministry of Health and Pfizer Inc.
The two-day conference aims to protect patients from the dangers of counterfeit pharmaceutical products by developing enhanced, practical policies to reduce levels of fake medicines across the region.
During his opening speech, the minister said: “The constitution of the United Arab Emirates, emphasizes that the community will ensure the wellbeing of citizens and establish means of prevention and treatment of diseases and encourage the establishment of hospital treatment in both the public and private sector,” He continued: “The United Arab Emirates has been able to implement its constitutional health principles thanks to the care and support of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and their brothers, Their Highnesses the Supreme Council of the Federation and by expanding quantitative and qualitative health services, so it covers all parts of the country and that will accelerate, God willing, to coincide with the highest levels of health in the developed world,” “The conference comes within the framework of our state’s keenness to meet the challenges that hinder the progress of the health sector, the framework of our social responsibility.
We’re here today to actively develop a plan to minimize the burden counterfeit drugs impose on our society. It is an inhumane industry that feeds on the pain and suffering of the unwell. This conference brings new ideas on how government, law enforcement agencies and the pharmaceutical industry can work together to tackle this growing global problem.” he added “I extend my sincere thanks to our strategic partners who have helped us in the fight against counterfeit medicines: the Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Customs Authority, Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Environment and Water, and all the health authorities, and pharmaceutical companies operating in the UAE.
I would like to thank Pfizer for sponsoring this conference and to all who contributed to it’s success.” He concluded.
Over the course of the conference, attending senior officials from ministries of health, police and customs from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, and Yemen will focus on sharing best practices, encouraging transnational cooperation and collaboration, highlighting the importance of legislative and regulatory reforms, and developing a specific plan of action for each participating country.
“We are all glad to see that government officials from around the region are meeting today to discuss an international problem that affects every patient and every health care professional in this region and around the world. To those who care about safety and quality of healthcare, who care about science and who care about innovation and medical progress thanks for joining us today.” said Mr. Lallemand during his speech at the conference’s opening ceremony.
“While medicine counterfeiting remain a significant safety challenge for the healthcare community worldwide, the vigorous partnership between the public and private sector members represent a new movement that is gathering solid momentum here and around the world. It is clear that governments, international organizations, police, customs, cross-industry representative bodies, and the pharmaceutical industry now treat counterfeiting with the seriousness it deserves. At Pfizer, we believe that innovation and collaboration can be the answer for many of the challenges we face today.” he added.
Counterfeit pharmaceutical production is a growing international issue. In the Gulf, Dubai Customs Authority seized over $5.4 million worth of counterfeit drugs in one of the region’s largest raids in September 2007 . By the first five months of 2008 the Authority also seized and destroyed 293 tonnes of seized counterfeit products .
Pharmaceutical counterfeiting poses a serious threat to public health and safety with products created on unlicensed and unregulated sites, frequently under unsanitary conditions. The counterfeit medicines produced contain unknown quantities of active pharmaceutical ingredients, and have been found to include toxins like arsenic, boric acid and lead; in addition to brick dust, floor wax and cartridge ink.
For his part, Dr. Amin Al Amiri said the conference will focus in its scientific development of practical solutions to the issue of counterfeit medicines, pointing out that the World Health Organization reports two thirds of the world is victim to counterfeit drugs, and people are dying on a daily basis. He pointed out that the World Health Organization acknowledges the issue of counterfeit medicine is a form of organized crime and should be prosecuted by law.
He continued to say that the United Arab Emirates has been able to eliminate such practices in the past few years, through the Federal Law No. 4 of 1983 concerning the introduction of drug registration prior to entry into the state, and a system of judicial officers and supervision of the pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical warehouses.
He also said that the UAE introduced a new law since 2009 requiring all companies to register medical equipment and supplies, so that the ministry will not allow entry of any medical device, starting from January next year without prior registration. This law also includes veterinary medicines and medical supplies and medicines derived from natural sources and herbal cosmetics and accessories.
There was a ministerial decision issued in October 2008 to form the Supreme Committee to Combat Counterfeit Medicines. The committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Health and the economy and health authorities, customs and internal affairs.
The first day of the conference was also open to local pharmacists and accredited by the UAE Ministry of Health as a Continuous Medical Education (CME) session. The conference, being held at the Intercontinental Festival City, Dubai, continues tomorrow.