Remarks by the Ambassador Butenis at the seminar "Protecting Sri Lankan Families from Counterfeit Drugs"

October 17, 2010

Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo

I'm glad to be able to join you at this conference to draw attention to the importance of protecting Sri Lanka's families from the threat of counterfeit drugs. We believe that it is important to call attention to the role that we all have in ensuring genuine medicines reach Sri Lanka's hospitals, doctors' offices, pharmacies, and public.

We all know that it is too easy to find, buy, and sell pirated and counterfeit goods. Walk down streets and through markets in many countries - including my own - and you will find pirated CDs and DVDs, fake Fendi bags and Cartier watches, pirated software, and much more. I think that, although many people know that what they're doing is illegal and wrong, they also think it's a victimless crime.

That is not true with counterfeit drugs. Buying, selling, distributing or using counterfeit drugs - fake drugs - can lead to serious and even life-threatening consequences. The truth is that counterfeits are a severe threat to public health - the health of our children, families, and loved ones - and should not be tolerated.

I'm pleased with the level of interest in addressing this matter. We have both quality and quantity of participation here today. The government of Sri Lanka, represented here today by the Ministry of Health and the National Intellectual Property Office, is developing programs and toughening regulations regarding counterfeit and unregistered drugs. Although budgets are tight, the number of trained staff in the various ministries is increasing. 

I'm pleased to see Customs officials here today. You play a vital role in stopping fakes before they reach the market. I'm also happy to see officials from the CID here today as well - since catching those who are selling fake drugs is just as important. We need to get the word out that those selling counterfeit drugs are likely to land in jail, to make people think twice about deciding to sell fake drugs. 

Now, I want to be clear: Virtually every country in the world is grappling with the scourge of fake, counterfeit, and unregistered drugs - just as Sri Lanka is. This is a problem on-line too, with emails offering all kinds of prescription drugs over the internet. It is important that when a person goes to the pharmacy to purchase medicine for a sick family member, or orders medicine from an on-line provider, that he or she can be certain that the medicine is genuine. And for that reason, I'm particularly pleased to see the active participation of Sri Lanka's pharmacists, chemists, pharmacy students and pharmacy owners today. As you know, you play perhaps the most critical role in this matter.

Recognizing the dangers posed by counterfeit and unregistered drugs, the U.S. Department of State launched a new campaign against counterfeit medicines to address this serious matter around the world. The U.S. Embassy in Colombo is pleased to work with the government of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry, the American Chamber of Commerce, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka to highlight the public health threat posed by counterfeit drugs and give you some tools to protect your businesses - and Sri Lanka's public - from fake medicines. 

I have also always seen this issue as an example of corruption, in which the makers of counterfeit drugs, or other goods, cheat the public, often with the collaboration of government officials, merchants, and others. So, in tackling this menace, you are not only protecting the health and safety of the citizens of this country, you are also battling corruption, another corrosive menace to society.

This conference will help all of us learn more about the problem, the challenges and opportunities to improve the situation, and how to better and more easily identify counterfeit and unregistered medicines. I'm gratified by your interest. I hope you find today's seminar educational and helpful. Working together, we really can make a difference and help keep Sri Lanka's families safe. 

Thank you, and enjoy the conference.