[Ip-health] Draft WHA resolution (Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tunisia and UAE) on Counterfeit medical products

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

This is an hand typed, unofficial transcript of a draft resolution on
"Counterfeit medical products" submitted by Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria,
Tunisia and United Arab Emirates on 20 May 2008.  It is expected that
this draft resolution will be discussed this afternoon in Committee A.


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SIXTY-FIRST WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
A61/A/Conf. Paper No.1
Agenda item 11.13
20 May 2008

Counterfeit medical products

Draft resolution prepared by Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tunisia and
United Arab Emirates

The Sixty-first World Health Assembly,

Recalling resolutions WHA41.16, WHA4712, and WHA52.19;

Having considered the report on counterfeit medical products;
(Footnote 1[Document A61/16])

Concerned about the situation in which counterfeit medical products
continue to move in international commerce representing a major threat
to public health health, especially in the poorer areas of developing
countries, and a challenge to the credibility and effectiveness of
health systems;

Aware of the importance of ensuring effective collaboration among
patients, health professionals, commercial private sector and
government institutions to effectively combat counterfeit medical
products;

Cognizant of the importance of ensuring effective international
collaboration and exchange of information to effectively combat
counterfeit medical products;

Noting with satisfaction that, in spite of severe financial
constraints, the Secretariat has intensified activities aimed at
strengthening international collaboration to combat counterfeit
medical products, and encouraging them to continue to do so;


Congratulating all parties concerned that have fulfilled their
responsibilities in compliance with the components of the above-
mentioned resolutions that specifically focus on combating counterfeit
medical products;

Congratulating also all parties that have contributed to the
establishment of the International Medical Products Anti-
Counterfeiting Taskforce, based on the Declaration of Rome of 16
February 2006, and encouraging them to continue to support its
activities;

Commending the leadership shown by WHO in promoting the establishment
of the International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce
which is contributing to strengthening international collaboration and
national efforts aimed at combating counterfeiting medical products;

Inviting bilateral agencies, multilateral agencies inside and outside
the United Nations system, and voluntary organizations, to support the
International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce, and to
support developing countries in setting up and carrying out programmes
aimed at combating counterfeit medical products, and thanking those
that are already doing so;

Requesting governments, pharmaceutical manufacturers and other
concerned parties to cooperate in the detection, investigation and
prevention of the increasing incidence of falsely labelled, spurious
or counterfeited medical products moving in international commerce.


1.  URGES Member States;

(1) to reaffirm their commitment to develop, implement and monitor
national policies and to take all necessary measures in order to
ensure access to high quality medical products;

(2)  to establish and enforce legislation and regulations that prevent
counterfeit medical products to be manufactured, exported, imported or
traded in international  transactions and the regulated distribution
system, taking into account the principles and recommendations
developed by the International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting
Taskforce;

(3) to establish effective mechanisms of coordination and
collaboration among health, enforcement and other relevant authorities
in order to improve detection, investigation and prosecution of cases
of counterfeit medical products;

(4) to establish appropriate mechanisms enabling international
cooperation and exchange of information among relevant authorities
involved in detecting and combating counterfeit medical products;

(5) to promote awareness among health professionals and consumers of
the risks posed by counterfeit medical products, especially when
acquired through unregulated outlets or unauthorized internet sites;

2. REQUESTS the Director-General:

(1) to support Member States in their efforts to develop and implement
policies and programmes aimed at combating counterfeit medical
products, including facilitating the exchange of information at the
international level and the development of tools, guidelines, training
and awareness initiatives, and methodology for evaluation and
monitoring;

(2) to strengthen the Secretariat of the International Medical
Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce, in order to improve WHO's
capacity to support the work of Member States and to intensify
collaboration with international organizations and other relevant
parties at the international level, seeking extrabudgetary resources
in addition to those in the regular budget to this end;

(3) to continue the development and dissemination of independent
information on instances of counterfeit medical products;

(4) to cooperate with Member States, at their request, with
international organizations and other relevant parties in detecting,
monitoring and analysing cases of counterfeit medical products and
their impact on public health;

(5) to report to the Sixty-third World Health Assembly on progress
achieved and problems encountered in the implementation of the work of
the International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce, with
recommendations for action.




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Thiru Balasubramaniam
Geneva Representative
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
thiru@keionline.org


Tel: +41 22 791 6727
Mobile: +41 76 508 0997