CPME welcomes the measures adopted by the European Parliament in combating falsified medicines. In the past years, numerous packages of falsified medicines reached patients not only via the illegal but also via the legal supply chain. These products usually contain sub-standard or falsified ingredients, no ingredients or ingredients in the wrong dosage, thus posing an imminent danger and serious risks to patients. In the future, the infiltration of falsified medicines in the legal supply chain will be prevented by an authentication system introduced by the proposal for a
falsified medicinal products directive (COM(2008)0668).

“Patient safety is paramount” underlined Dr. Konstanty Radziwill, President of the CPME and appreciated the draft directive as adopted by the European Parliament. “The draft directive is a huge step ahead in fighting falsified medicines and also illegal internet sales. The challenges are best accommodated at EU level since a directive is the right instrument to also address the increasing number of cross border supply chains and internet sales. We as physicians are pleased to see European politicians taking appropriate action to increase patient safety.”

Please find the adopted text here.

For more information, please contact:
Birgit BEGER
CPME Secretary General
Tel.: +32 2 732 72 02
Fax: +32 2 732 73 44
e-mail: secretariat@cpme.eu
For more information about CPME, consult our website: http://www.cpme.eu

The Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) is the representative organisation of European doctors through its full members, the most representative National Medical Associations of 27 countries in Europe. CPME works closely
together with its other members, four National Medical Associations from associated and observer countries as well as with specialized European medical associations. CPME aims to promote the highest standards of medical training and medical practice in order to achieve the highest quality of health care for all patients in Europe. CPME is also concerned with the promotion of public health, the
relationship between patients and doctors and the free movement of doctors within the European Union.