Falsified Medical Products
The trafficking and distribution of falsified medical products have been identified as one of the most urgent health and security challenges of the next decade. This situation puts both patients in need of specific medication (including controlled drugs/medicines) and the public at risk. The acute character of the situation has been demonstrated and aggravated by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to expose the vulnerability of the health sector to corruption and criminal activities conducted by organized crime groups.
There have been numerous examples of organized crime groups exploiting the pandemic as exhibited through seizures. Previously and continuously to the COVID-19 outbreak, many CCP PCUs and ACCUs have reported seizures of SF medicines both at land borders, at seaports and at airports.
In this light, there is a growing need to address and prevent the continuously increasing spread of falsified medicines on all levels - from manufacturing to distribution.
