Responding to the evolving nature of counterfeit/falsified medical products and other similar crimes involving threats to public health in Europe and beyond, the Council of Europe´s MEDICRIME Committee adopted a MEDICRIME strategy for 2024-2025 which offers new tools and concrete responses to continuous and emerging challenges faced by state authorities.
The strategy aims at strengthening efforts in Europe and beyond by addressing not only the phenomenon of counterfeit/falsified medical products but also its root causes and their promotion, particularly on online media. The strategy also reflects the understanding that consumers begin to believe these to be legitimate and cheaper alternatives than professional medical diagnosis and treatment. This can be reinforced by national authorities seeing the threat as routine rather than something requiring targeted attention. This masks the gravity of the risk to public health that become more obvious when a crisis arises, such the COVID-19 pandemic.
To address these complex issues, the strategy envisages a rounded approach consisting of 13 actions targeted at strengthening preventive, repressive and protection capacities of national authorities through the development of a set of binding and non-binding legal standards, analytical reports, and model tools. In particular, it also aims at promoting the Convention, preventing the counterfeiting/falsification of medical products and similar crimes and prosecuting the manufacturers, suppliers and those enabling the trafficking of counterfeit/falsified medical products and similar crimes involving threats to public health.
The strategy stresses the need for the respect of human rights and the rule of law, as well as due consideration for the victims from the crimes of counterfeit/falsified medical products and similar crimes. It also emphasises the need for cross-sectoral and cross-border co-operation by taking into consideration a dedicated mechanism to execute international cooperation requests and help law enforcement and judicial cooperation rapidly exchange vital investigative information and facilitate evidence collection in other States.
The new strategy will be implemented by the MEDICRIME Committee, in close co-operation and co-ordination with other relevant international organisations and Council of Europe bodies.
