.S. FDA Commissioner Hamburg Urges Physicians, Patients to
Only Purchase Medicines from Reliable Sources to Better Protect Against
Fake Drugs
Washington, D.C. (September 28, 2012) –
The
Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) today convened leading domestic and
international stakeholders in the fight against counterfeit and substandard
medicines, making a renewed commitment to work together and implement new
solutions to protect patients worldwide. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg, in a
keynote
to the conference, highlighted new efforts her agency is undertaking to
reduce the threat and pledged the FDA’s ongoing support to ensure a safe U.S.
drug supply.
"The American people have every right to expect that the medicines they rely
on are exactly what the package and label say they are – and that the medicines
have been carefully evaluated by FDA for safety, efficacy, and quality," said
FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. "Our success in addressing this
global challenge will depend on collaborating with public health and regulatory
partners here in the United States and around the world."
PSM Executive Director Scott LaGanga.
Image courtesy of C-SPAN.
The event brought together more than 140 participants, representing
government, health care, law enforcement and patient advocacy. This is the third
year that PSM has hosted a global Interchange event in Washington, D.C.
“This year’s Interchange was our boldest, most ambitious effort to date,”
said PSM President Dr. Marvin D. Shepherd. “By bringing together stakeholders
from as far away as India and Great Britain to share information and ideas on
how to win the war on counterfeit medicines, we are sending a message to
counterfeiters worldwide: the noose is tightening, and you can’t hide forever.
As regulators and law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad come to grips
with the great public health risk of fake drugs, our efforts and successes will
only intensify in the future.” To read more click
here
