The French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Fondation Chirac are presenting Pharmacide. This video is warning against the dangers of consumption of drugs purchased through the Internet.

1. ACCESS TO QUALITY MEDICINES AND HEALTHCARE
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
PHARMACIDE
Video to raise awareness about the dangers of
purchasing falsified medicines on the Internet
The French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Fondation Chirac are
presenting Pharmacide, a video warning against the dangers of consumption of
drugs purchased through the Internet. The aim is to inform consumers and patients
that medicine is not just another commodity.
The film premiered on May 10, 2011 and will be available on the websites of the
Fondation Chirac, of France Diplomacie, and LatitudeFrance.
Through the stories of three characters living in New York, Paris, and Hanoi, the
film shows that Internet pharmaceutical purchases are increasingly common in
wealthy countries. Consumers of all socio-professional groups, regardless of age,
engage in such practices.
In February 2010, Pfizer conducted a study showing that one in five consumers
regularly buy drugs online in Europe. In France, 14% of respondents say they buy
prescription drugs online.
On February 16, 2011, the European Parliament voted a directive to prevent the
introduction of falsified medicines into the European market, with a more specific
section to better regulate the Internet sales of authorized drugs. The Fondation
Chirac applauds the European initiative and hopes that the EU will include, in its
cooperation programs with developing countries, projects specifically dedicated to
ensuring the safety of the pharmaceutical distribution circuit and enhancing drug
quality control.
PHARMACIDE
Direction and Production: Soho Films
Funding Partners: French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Fondation Chirac
U.S. Pharmacopeia
World Intellectual Property Organization
Traffic in falsified medicines primarily affects developing countries with fragile borders,
whose regulation are in the process of being defined, and who have few means to control
and punish traffickers.
The Fondation Chirac is working, in partnership with the Pierre Fabre foundation, on a field
project with exemplary practices to fight against this scourge. The National Drug Quality
Control Laboratory of Benin reinforces these efforts.
The French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has also established a Priority Solidarity
Fund for the Mekong region that cooperates with the region's governments to fight against
the manufacture and trade of falsified medicines.
Press contact : Juliette Karpa
+33 (0)1 47 42 87 71 / juliette.karpa@fondationchirac.eu