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Published September 20, 2023 / Public health

Pharmaceutical crime: Interpol and the Brazzaville Foundation hold talks

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Lyon, 20 September 2023 - Representatives of the Brazzaville Foundation and members of the Unit in charge of Public Health and Pharmaceutical Crime held a working session at INTERPOL's Illicit Markets Sub-Directorate in Lyon, with the aim of coordinating their action against trafficking substandard and falsified medical products in Africa.

From left to right: Chi-wang LAM, Co-ordinator, Public Health and Pharmaceutical Crime; Cindy Buckley, Deputy Director, Illicit Markets; Cédric Otse-Mawandza, Head of Mission at the Brazzaville Foundation ; Richard Amalvy, Chief Executive of the Brazzaville Foundation ; Marco Foddi, Head of Programme at INTERPOL attended the meeting remotely, © Brazzaville Foundation.

INTERPOL presented its operation PANGEA which, since 2008, has enabled INTERPOL to combat the global trafficking of counterfeit pharmaceutical products on the market, while informing the public of the risks associated with the purchase of unregulated medicines. Particular emphasis was placed on the growing commitment of member countries, especially in Africa, and collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry to improve global cooperation andharmonisation legislation to effectively combat pharmaceutical crime.

 

The Brazzaville Foundation, technical coordinator of the Lomé Initiative against substandard and falsified medical products (SFMP) has shared its 2023-2024 roadmap, which includes a series of activities in collaboration with technical and financial partners, and aims to document best practices in Africa in the fight against SFMP which will be shared at a Lomé +4 conference, scheduled for the last quarter of 2024 in Togo.

 

The meeting concluded with a proposal to compile best practices in the fight against pharmaceutical crime, for inclusion in programme on Illicit Goods and Global Health (IGGH), and other global and regional initiatives co-ordinated by INTERPOL. In addition to sharing knowledge in the reduction of criminal networks, both parties agreed to continue their discussions on the health-environment nexus and the public health risks of climate change in the run-up to COP28.