Regulating Pharmaceutical Distributors

Pharmaceutical distributors, wholesalers, importers, exporters, all those involved in the distribution chain are key players that, maybe more than others, should improve their capacity to combat counterfeit medicines. It is through the distribution chain that counterfeit medicines reach patients. It is therefore essential that distributors, wholesalers, importers, exporters develop and effectively implement business practices that make the distribution chain as impermeable as possible to counterfeits and open to appropriate verification by national authorities. It is known that in many countries unauthorized trade is widespread and that it is difficult to get unauthorized traders to respect rules and regulations. Yet, if unauthorized trade is the result of many factors, local distributors and retail pharmacists may find themselves part of the problem (for having left important areas of the country without effective supply mechanisms)... 

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