Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-02-15-Speech-2-561-000"
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"en.20110215.29.2-561-000"2
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"Madam President, now that we have arrived at this point, at this time and at the end of this long process, I think that we know what it is that unites us, every man and woman in this room: it is the protection of patients’ health. It is our duty to protect the 500 million citizens who live in Europe and who do not know if the medicines they are using are real or falsified. We have to give them the guarantee that the medicines they are using are going to help save their lives, and not contribute to their early death. I think that this problem is far too serious for us to allow it to continue unresolved any longer.
That is why I have referred several times to these falsified medicines as ‘silent killers’ because that is effectively what they are, because if people who have problems ... We know how falsification networks have changed: a few years ago everybody would be talking about Viagra, but today it is impossible not to talk about drugs that combat, or attempt to combat, diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and cholesterol.
Therefore, as I said, these are ‘silent killers’ because, if they are not combating these diseases, they are not helping people.
This commitment that we are discussing here today is one which brings together some of the changes obtained throughout this process. To begin with, we started in the market and ended up in health (and I heartily welcome this move to health); to begin with, we started with physical space, and included the Internet, as we could not leave out the main gateway for falsified medicines in Europe; to begin with, we had merely a monitoring system, and we went on to add sanctions and penalties to this. If we consider that falsification is a crime, we had to add sanctions and penalties.
There is also another important element: this is not confined merely to Europe. We also ensure that third countries, where the situation of falsification is even more serious, are considered within our proposal presented here today.
We know that, in spite of only having random monitoring, since 2005, there has been a 400% increase in the seizure of falsified medicines. We know that this trade represents profits of EUR 45 billion per year for certain criminal networks, but a total disaster for citizens’ health.
That is why I wish to make it very clear that the counterfeiting of medicines is not just any counterfeiting, because it is a form of counterfeiting which completely undermines confidence in our health systems. As falsification is an organised crime, as I have already mentioned, I believe that we have to combat it with this legislation, with our commitment, and with our concerted efforts. Therefore, we present a monitoring system which extends all the way from the manufacturer to the patient. This has been a battle for Parliament, and something which I am very pleased is now assured.
This procedure has passed through two Commissioners and four presidencies. We began with the Commissioner for Industry, as I mentioned, and we end now with the Commissioner for Health. It has been a long process and therefore, I would like to end with some words of very special thanks for the rapporteurs from other groups who have followed this procedure with great commitment and dedication, from the beginning to the end: Mrs Grossetête, Mrs Roth-Behrendt, Mr Krahmer, Mr Tremopoulos, Mrs Yannakoudakis and Mrs Rosbach. Without them, this would not have been such an interesting and, at the same time, productive, debate. I know that at times, we have adopted differing stances, but I also know that we have had a common objective, that of protecting patients’ health. As I cannot thank all those who have been involved, I would like to offer my symbolic gratitude to all those who worked on this directive by naming Mrs Pantazidou, who gave me immense support throughout the whole procedure."@en1
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