Veep calls for measures to fight counterfeit drugs

Accra, Nov. 3, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday called on member countries of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP), to institute effective measures that would help detect fake and counterfeit drugs.

He said the use of counterfeit drugs is not only detrimental to human life, but could also tarnish the image of countries in which such practices are prevalent.

Vice President Mahama made the call in a speech read on his behalf during the opening of the 10th annual meeting of the ISoP in Accra on the theme: "Pharmacovigilance in the Global Village."

The ISoP is an international non-profit scientific organisation, which aims at fostering pharmacovigilance both scientifically and educationally, and to enhance all aspects of the safe and proper use of medicines in all countries.

Apart from encouraging and extending research in the field of pharmacovigilance, ISoP also aims at promoting a regular exchange of information by means of meetings, symposia, workshops and the publication of bulletins to educate people at all levels.

The society which cuts through all the continents in the world include members from Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Canada, Italy and Ireland.

Vice President Mahama said the substantial amount of money the United States President is providing to developing countries to fight diseases would not benefit them if vigilance is not intensified to eliminate the malpractices in drug administration.

He called on member countries to tighten their security networks to ensure that proper drug administration is practised to repose more confidence in the existing pharmaceutical companies.

"Government of Ghana is creating the necessary environment to become a global major actor in the vigilance against counterfeiting and misuse of drugs and I will like to call on all of you here (Accra) to do same in your countries."

Dr Alexander Doodoo, President of ISoP said in the bid of the society to institute vigilance on drug use in the world, his outfit would respect human rights, dignity and other human values to ensure that their fight against one evil does not degenerate into other evils.

He said as the first African and Ghanaian President of ISoP, he would work round in the sub-region to eliminate all drug malpractices that affect both life and industry in their countries of operation.

Mr Serge Xueref, an official of Global Fund, Geneva, Switzerland said the fund cover three major areas of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS among 140 countries in the world.

He said apart from offering assistance to other areas, Global Fund had already supported about 2.8 million HIV/AIDS patients and distributed about 122 million bed nets in all their operational areas.