Access to Quality Medicines and Healthcare
Access to quality medicines is a major challenge facing public health policies in Africa where falsified medicines are a widespread danger.
Some of these falsified medicines contain no active ingredients, while in others the ingredients are present in inadequate doses, and still others contain highly toxic substances.
These fake medications harm patients due to their uselessness in treating serious diseases and contribute to increasing treatment-resistant strains of infectious diseases. Worse, in far too many cases they cause death.
Although purchasing medications in developing countries always represents a heavy financial burden for patients, such wasteful expenditures have dramatic economic consequences for families.
The distribution of harmful or inactive medicines that escape all control constitutes a danger to the health and safety of populations, a moral scandal and an enormous challenge for actors involved in development.
Today in the world
- In some countries, falsified medicines reaches over 30% of all medication for sale
- A precise estimation of the percentage of falsified drugs and falsified medications on national markets is currently impossible.
- The 2007 figures cited roughly represent a 20% hike from 2006; which is 10 times higher than in 2000 (Counterfeit Medical products – WHO Secretariat report of December 18, 2008)
- According to certain figures, the falsified drug trade is currently 25 times more lucrative than the sales of illegal drugs. The falsified drug trade has replicated the methods of the illegal drug traffic and is becoming even more profitable.
- Whereas a drug user is conscious of consuming illicit products, a sick patient is unaware that the medicine he is taking is dangerous.
- In 2007, authorities in most of WHO’s member countries discovered more than 4 cases of toxic medical products a day (Counterfeit Medical Products – WHO Secretariat report, December 18, 2008)
Extension of the Benin National Laboratory of Quality Control of Medicines
To attain regional scope and consolidate the policy of access to quality medicines in West Africa, the overarching public health and safety challenge, the national laboratory of quality control of medicines Benin must obtain certification from the World Health Organization. This requires the extension of its facilities as well as the enhancement of its technical and human resources, which will strengthen its control and training missions on the national and regional scale. > Explore the project
The Cotonou Declaration, October 12, 2009
President Jacques Chirac, in the presence of the Honorable Thomas Boni Yayi, President of Benin, and the Honorable Blaise Compaoré, President of Burkina Faso, and several other heads of state and directors of international organizations, called political leaders to fight against the traffic of falsified medicines. > Explore the project
International Mobilization
Ever since the Cotonou Declaration was launched on October 12, 2009, the Fondation Chirac has led a campaign to mobilize international authorities at the highest level. The Foundation regularly organizes and participates in conferences, consultations, and meetings to mobilize political, technical, administrative, and financial support for efforts against the increasing traffic falsified medicines. > Explore the project
Better Governance
The Cotonou Declaration launched October 12, 2009, is a solemn declaration on the part of senior politicians and the heads of international organizations, pledging to strengthen the means to stop the traffic of falsified medicines and protect human health. > Explore the project
Managing Director and Scientific Committee
Marc Gentilini is the Managing Director for access to health and quality medication. He is assisted by Capucine Samuel-Lajeunesse. > Discover the comitee
