May 2016
I am speaking on behalf of the International Council of Nurses, the International Pharmaceutical Federation, the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, FDI World Dental Federation and the World Medical Association, which together form the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA). Together, we speak for over 26 million health professionals in more than 130 countries.
We welcome different WHO efforts, including the developments of “track and trace” models. The detection of SSFFC is facilitated by new technologies. We view with interest the development of initiatives aimed at authenticating medicines at the point of dispensing or
purchase by the patients, in both high-income countries (e.g. EU falsified directive) or in low-income countries. Such tools, especially when developed in collaboration with health professionals, can improve vigilance and help reduce public concern about SSFFCs and
enhance confidence in medicines.
Similarly, we welcome WHO Medical Product Alerts, which serve as important tools for health professionals. We would welcome a similar initiative for medical and dental devices.
Safeguarding the legitimate supply chain is crucial and health professionals play a key role. We note that there is still lack of awareness of the risks associated with obtaining medicines through unsafe, illegal or non-legitimate sources. This is why WHPA will promote further awareness about the risks of SSFFCs via interactive educational videos targeting different audiences: public, health professionals and policy makers, all in different contexts worldwide.
These videos will be pubically available in mid-2016.
We are aware of the increasing number of different initiatives from both governments, and public and private sectors and call for consistency, integration and coordination of solutions adopted by all stakeholders at local level to be ensured.
Finally, we would like to reaffirm our interest in contributing to WHO work.