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Minimising the Public Health Risks Posed by Counterfeit Medical Products and Similar Crimes

Background

Counterfeiting of medicines and similar crimes in healthcare poses a risk to public health.

In continuing with the activities carried out under the aegis of the former Partial Agreement in the Social and Public Health field, the Committee of Experts on minimising the public health risks posed by counterfeiting of medical products and related crimes (CD-P-PH/CMED) was entrusted with developing and promoting the implementation of mulitsectoral risk prevention and management strategies. For more information about this Committee of Experts, the CD-P-PH/CMED, click HERE.

Work Programme

The CD-P-PH/CMED has given priority to the following projects:

transferring "know-how" and proven practices to member states' officials and concerned professionals through the delivery and management of multisectorial training and education and through publications;
providing public health authorities with model approaches and strategies on risk communication;
promoting a network of (Single) Points of Contact (SPOCs);
building and maintaining specific knowledge and intelligence;
drafting and implementing the Council of Europe Convention on counterfeit medical products and similar crimes involving threats to public health (Medicrime);
sharing model approaches with other international institutions and organisations.

Programme Results

Trainings
Risk Communication Model
Publications
Expert support for the organisation of international events

More information on the programme results.

Reports/Model Approaches

UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Workshop Report "Medicines on the web - risks and benefits", 15-18 November 2009

Counterfeit medicines - Survey report (2006) by Dr Jonathan Harper and Mr Bertrand Gellie. For more information or to order this publication, please go to Council of Europe's Online Bookstore.

Model Approach "Counterfeit Medicines in Europe: Risk Communication Strategies for Drug Regulatory Authorities", 25 November 2008

National and International Co-operation to Combat Counterfeiting of Medicines and Pharmaceutical Crimes: A Model for a Network and Single Points of Contacts (SPOCs)

Counterfeit Medicinal Product Notification Form

Medicrime

The Council of Europe has drafted a Convention which constitutes, for the first time, a binding international instrument in the criminal law field on counterfeiting of medical products and similar crimes involving threats to public health (MEDICRIME Convention).

The new Medicrime Convention was opened for signature at a conference in Moscow on 26 to 28 October 2011. Views were exchanged on providing the legislative support and practical measures to relevant bodies, the systems and procedures needed to implement the Convention in practice as part of a country’s domestic legislation.

Read the press release concerning the Medicrime Convention

To download the conference slides

Products & Services

Counterfeit medicines - Survey report (2006) by Dr. Jonathan Harper and Mr. Bertrand Gellie. For more information or to order this publication, go to the Council of Europe's Online Bookstore.

Events
International Conference on counterfeit medical products, 15-16 April 2010, Basel, Switzerland. Download the press release.

Training Course "Best Practices to Combat the Counterfeiting of Medicines and Protect Public Health", 21-22 January 2010, Lisbon, Portugal. Download the press release.

Training Course "Best Practices to Combat the Counterfeiting of Medicines and Protect Public Health", 27-28 June 2008, Strasbourg, France. Download the press release.

Training Course "Working Across Disciplines and Borders - Best Practices to Combat Counterfeiting of Medicines and to Protect Public Health", 6-7 December 2007, Strasbourg, France. To view the documentation related to the event, click HERE.

International Conference "Europe against Counterfeit Medicines", 23-24 October 2006, Moscow, Russian Federation. To view the documentation related to the event, click HERE.

Seminar "Counteract the counterfeiters! Limiting the risks of Counterfeit Medicines to Public Health in Europe by Adequate measures and Mechanisms", 21-23 September 2005, Strasbourg, France. To view the documentation related to the event, click HERE.

Additional Information and Documentation

NEW: Read the leaflet "Combating counterfeiting of medical products and similar crimes"