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Home > News > 4th edition of "Fight the Fakes" week: Legislation and collaboration at the heart of discussions

Published December 10, 2021 / Public health

4th edition of "Fight the Fakes" week: Legislation and collaboration at the heart of discussions

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From December 6 to 12, the Fight The Fakes alliance* organised the 4th edition of "Fight the Fakes Week": a series of events and meetings aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of falsified and substandard medicines. The Brazzaville Foundation participated.

This year, "Fight the Fakes Week" was held under the slogan "Health is not a hoax". This theme is all the more relevant in the context of a global pandemic, where the trafficking of medical products is proliferating to the detriment of difficulties linked to shortages, access and suspicions about vaccines.

 

On December 8, the Brazzaville Foundation, represented by the Chief Executive, Richard Amalvy, was invited to interact with members of the Fight the Fakes alliance during an online Meet & Greet event. This fruitful meeting provided an opportunity to discuss Brazzaville Foundation 's commitment as a member of the alliance.

 

On 9 December, Richard Amalvy and Professor Moustafa Mijiyawa, Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Access to Health Care of the Republic of Togo and Political Coordinator of the Lomé Initiative, participated in an online webinar on the power of cooperation and legislation in the fight against HIV/AIDS. the Lomé InitiativeIn addition, Professor Moustafa Mijiyawa, Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Access to Health Care of the Republic of Togo, and Political Coordinator of the World Health Organization (WHO), participated in the online webinar on the power of cooperation and legislation in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Professor Mijiyawa began by addressing the health and safety challenges posed by trafficking falsified medicines in Africa. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Republic of Togo, political coordinator of the Lomé Initiative and signatory to the treaty establishing the African Medicines Agency and the MEDICRIMEconvention, to the fight against trafficking and the need for multilateral and cross-border collaboration to criminalize this crime.

Caption: Pr Moustafa Mijiyawa, Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Access to Health Care of the Republic of Togo and political coordinator of the Lomé Initiative at the webinar on the power of legislation and collaboration in the fight against falsified medicines..

Richard Amalvy then returned to the proven links between falsified medicines, public health, security and the rule of law, which define the priorities around which the Lomé Initiative programme 2022-2024 is built.

 

On the legislative front, at the beginning of 2022, ministers from the countries concerned, experts from the private and public sectors and civil society players will be invited to discuss the results of the legislative audit carried out by Brazzaville Foundation as part of its technical support for the Lomé Initiative. This review will provide a better understanding of the level of criminalization of trafficking , and help countries to improve their legislation.

Caption: Richard Amalvy, Chief Executive of Brazzaville Foundation, during the webinar on the power of legislation and collaboration in the fight against falsified medicines..

*The alliance Fight the Fakes (FTF) is a multi-stakeholder, non-profit association dedicated to raising awareness and influencing change in the face of the proliferation of substandard and falsified medicines. It brings together doctors, nurses, pharmacists, research institutes, NGOs and foundations, academic institutions, consumer protection coalitions, product development partnerships, mHealth providers, pharmaceutical wholesalers, the research-based and generics pharmaceutical industry and civil engagement networks.