EU: Seizures of counterfeit imports double in 2008

The European Union said seizures of fake branded goods more than doubled last year from 2007.  Customs authorities seized some 178 million counterfeit goods last year, compared with 79 million a year earlier.
Some 20 million of these items were potentially dangerous to health and safety, officials said, because fake toys, medicines and electronics don’t meet [...]

Explosion in drug websites puts patients at risk

An investigation by the Telegraph (London, UK) revealed that hundreds of websites, many based in Britain, are selling dangerous drugs which should only be prescribed by doctors.
The Telegraph’s investigation revealed websites selling dangerous drugs with few or no checks.
The law states that patients buying drugs over the internet must first undergo a full online “consultation”.  [...]

New Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme in the U.K. to Encourage Innovation and Access

A new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) came into effect in the U.K. on January 1, 2009.  The PPRS represents an attempt to balance incentives for innovation with cost and price restraint.  The objectives of the 2009 PPRS are:

To deliver value for money; securing the provision of safe and effective medicines at reasonable prices;
To encourage innovation [...]

Patients’ Manifesto launched in European Parliament

The European Patient Forum (EPF) launched a patients’ manifesto (or bill or rights) in the European Parliament yesterday.  The following press release from the EPF outlines their call to action for the empowerment and protection of patients across Europe:
(Sept. 16, 2008)  The European Patients’ Forum launched today a Patients Manifesto in the European Parliament outlining vital [...]