PSMO-10 - New strategies for pharmacists in the fight against substandard and falsified drugs

Ballroom West
Organised by the FIP Regulators Advisory Group in collaboration with the FIP Community Pharmacy Section, the FIP Hospital Pharmacy Section, the FIP Special Interest Group on Regulatory Sciences and Quality and the FIP Technology Advisors Group

Chair(s)

Dr Ilisa Bernstein, American Pharmacists Association, United States and Dr Ugbede Abu, USAID Bureau for Global Health, United States

Introduction

During a time when substandard and falsified (SF) medicines continue to threaten patient safety and public health, pharmacists play a role as the last line of defense for patients.  SF medicines impact the quality of health care, patient outcomes and access to safe and authentic medicines, infiltrating formal and informal marketplaces around the world. The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 10 medical products in low- and middle-income countries is substandard or falsified. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that as many as 267,000 deaths per year are linked to substandard and falsified antimalarial medicines, with another 169,271 attributed to substandard and falsified antibiotics. Current efforts to address the problem are not making a dent. This session will bring together experts to frame the global threat of SF medicines and explore new and innovative technological, regulatory and outreach strategies that pharmacists can use to protect their patients and ensure equitable access to quality medicines

Programme

 

14:00 – 14:05 Introduction by co-chairs
Dr Ilisa Bernstein, American Pharmacists Association, United States and Dr Christine Malati, USAID Bureau for Global Health, United States
14:05 – 14:25 Nigeria’s perspective on SF medicines and patient protection strategies
Dr Christianah Mojisolo Adeyeye, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control of Nigeria (NAFDAC), Nigeria
14:25 – 14:45

Zambia’s perspective on SF medicines and patient protection strategies
Dr Petros Lukonde, Chief Pharmacist, Ministry Health, Zambia

14:45 – 15:05 Global insights and technological solutions in the fight against SF medicines
Mr Josh Bolin, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, United States
15:05 – 15:20 Panel discussion 
15:20 – 15:30

Q&A and closing

Learning objectives

  • To identify challenges pharmacists face in detecting substandard and falsified medicines. 
  • To explain new and innovative strategies for protecting patients and ensuring equitable access to quality medicines. 
  • To describe technological and regulatory frameworks for authenticating and verifying the legitimacy of medicines. 

Summary

  • Pharmacists play a critical role in patient protection by detecting substandard and falsified medicines
  • Each country faces unique challenges in dealing with substandard and falsified medicines, demanding innovative regulatory and technological solutions.   
  • Pharmacists are a trusted source of information and can educate their patients about the risks of obtaining medicines through unverified online sources and through non-regulated channels.