Arab anti-forgery authority calls for more action against pharma fraud

(with photos) CAIRO, Jan 31 (KUNA) -- Chairman of the Arab Federation for Combating Counterfeiting and Forgery Mutleg Bou-Rguba Al-Otaibi has called for greater pan-Arab coordination in fighting forgery, particularly pharmaceutical counterfeiting and fraud. In a statement to KUNA, during his current visit to Egypt, Al-Otaibi indicated that Arab states, namely Kuwait and Egypt, are at present coordinating in the combat of counterfeiting, particularly in medical products' industry, through coordination among Arab and international pharmaceutical companies The Egyptian Ministry of Health has agreed to hold a conference, themed "combating forgery and counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industries," in the year-end, he said, citing an example of concrete efforts in this respect. He also noted that the Arab countries had agreed to forming special panels of experts to coordinate efforts against fraud in the field. Regarding his visit to Egypt, Al-Otaibi said it was aimed at presenting minutes of the union board meeting, held in Kuwait on January 16th, to the Secretariat-General of the Council of Arab Economic Unity, indicating that the report includes several resolutions such as terminating term of the secretary general, Hussam Abu Al-Alaa, and naming as his successor Ayman Mohammad Bibars. The mission, he added, is also designed to brief the board about recommendations of a Kuwait-hosted convention, held last November, and the union draft strategy. Al-Otaibi added that he had met the secretary general of economic union, adding that the board meeting minutes was approved and the new secretary general was presented. Among the endorsed resolutions was acceptance of a number of offices in Arab countries as new members of the union, he said, naming the bureaus in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, in addition to the existing office in Kuwait and the headquarters in Egypt. Elaborating, Al-Otaibi stated that the Kuwait conference had been patronized by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The conferees had called on Arab governments to update laws and legislations and toughen penalties against pharmaceutical counterfeiting and trade labels. Meanwhile, Bibars, the newly-assigned Secretary General of the Arab Federation for Combating Counterfeiting and Forgery, said in a statement to KUNA that the federation "would witness a qualitative step forward in the realm of combating counterfeiting." Several sessions will be held for all staff members and fresh efforts will be exerted to generate funding, he said. Bibars called for a more effective role by the Arab media to enhance the Arab citizens' awareness of dangers caused by forgery, as well as negative effects of such illegal activities on the economies as well as public health. He also urged for tougher laws and punitive actions against forgery in the pharmaceutical field.