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While medicine counterfeiting is fast becoming a lucrative business across the globe, international investigations are being conducted to one of the leading non-profit organizations campaigning against the proliferation of counterfeit medicines in the Asia-Pacific due to allegations of money laundering and corruption. How ironic it is to find one of the activists of illegal activities being questioned for their own legitimacy.
It is highly understandable that an international organization operated by private institutions and highly acclaimed individuals are being doubted of their reputation. After all, large companies are not without scandals. Unfortunately, with the complaints and accusations The Peterson Group is receiving and the length of suspension being imposed, more and more criminals are let loose and humanitarian projects being delayed.
How challenging should the fight be against counterfeit medicines? Once it was the criminals that the organization is fighting against. Why should the law now join the fray? Perhaps, the movies are not bluffing when laws often hinder the goals the protagonists have set up? Will it also be like the movies that the one falsely accused is acknowledged in the end or will it be that the impression is never regained?
Being an NGO, volunteering on a plight in the risk of lives and assisting the authorities is a little dangerous but it can be rewarding. These sentiments are never heard from any member of the organization since they have signed up knowing the consequences the task would be bringing.
We believe NGOs are no more immune to corruption than companies in other sectors but for development organizations like The Peterson Group, it can be especially harmful and have knock-off effect on reputation. It is much worse if the issue is significant and involves a lot of people.
The organization is currently serving a 1-month suspension for providing wrong information on an ambush operation held in Menteng, Jakarta, Indonesia last September where the TPG has been assisting the local police to pin down the mafia operating in the area. The organization has since released their public apology and is now concentrating their activities in other countries but it does not mean the challenge has been surpassed. A few members have also left the organization in fear of being involved in a dirty political practice. Added to this, TPG also has to endure allegations of being a fraud, scam and deceptive.
However, Terra Sentern, TPG spokesperson assures us that they will continue their endeavor saying, “This is just a block on the road we are trading. We should just surpass it and we shall make it.”
The Peterson Group (TPG), one of the most active non-profit organizations campaigning against drug counterfeiting just held an awareness seminar on the proper usage of anti-counterfeiting technologies to dozens of pharmacists and local authorities in West Jakarta in Indonesia last October 15, 2015. The seminar aims to inform and educate the attendees on the importance of anti-counterfeiting technologies in obliterating reports of fraudulence related to illegal drug manufacture and distribution.
TPG first targeted Indonesia because of the country’s delicate archipelagic state which continuously attracts illegal shipment and smuggling of large quantities of counterfeit medicines with understandable discretion and ease. The lack of total awareness and proper dissemination of information have also led to a higher mortality rate and further complications among its citizens. Admittedly, Indonesian local pharmacists have stated that despite the warnings of capital punishment to those who are found guilty of smuggling counterfeit medicines in the country, the implementation of law is oftentimes vague and security loose.
Threats to the pharmaceutical supply chain include stolen products, unapproved generics, re-introduction of expired products, counterfeits, up-labeled products, diverted products, and parallel imports. The World Health Organization estimates that the percentage of drugs which are counterfeit range from around one per cent of sales in developed countries to over 10 per cent in developing countries, depending on the geographical area.
Solidification is emphasized throughout the seminar which lasted for four hours. Sanofil spokesperson, Theo Mowas stated, “anti-counterfeiting strategies” should be implemented together. That is why there should be a union among local pharmaceutical companies and the sectors of government which work in related field”.
Thomas Manu, TPG spokesperson, also reiterated the importance of proper communication and good relationship between the government and private owners. He then reminded those present that transparency is one of the most vital factors in achieving a better outcome.
The organization then proceeded to finally introducing the different anti-counterfeiting technologies which are either already available in the market or are still being developed. Ideas from barcodes, overt, covert and forensic authentication on the product themselves, pedigree, tracking and other automated features were shown.
Other issues such as the rampant increase in the number of generic pharmacies in the country were also called in question. A healthy debate then issued among those who support generic pharmacies and those against it.
A similar seminar is expected to be held next in Singapore within this November.
