Cooperation agreement to fight medicine forgery

PANAMA. An agreement to coperate in the detection and prevention of the introduction and sale of fake pharmaceutical products into Panama has been signed Health Ministry, the Public Ministry the General Customs Authority, the National Police and the University of Panama.

The agreement, cresting the Inter-institutional Executive Committee says the entities will hold activities that promote mutual collaboration in the development of programs to prevent and track down fake medicines, make-up, and foods.

Health Minister Rosario Turner said that in other Latin American countries medicine forgery has reached 15 percent,

The new agreement will prevent Panama from reaching that point.

Turner explained that even though only two cases of fake medicines (viagra and panadol) have taken place in Panama, it is important for government entities to prevent this type of activity from continuing and from increasing.

She said that with this new cooperation agreement not only will there be an organizational structure in place, but a strategic plan will be developed and training will be given to government officials who will be in charge of monitoring the commitments.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Ana Matilde Gomez said that it is important to remember that medicine forgery is a crime that transcends borders and that in many casesa the practice is financed by organized crime.