The International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT) is a WHO-led initiative to combat counterfeit medicines globally. Established in 2006, IMPACT brings together governments, international organisations, NGOs, and the pharmaceutical industry to coordinate anti-counterfeiting efforts.
IMPACT Framework
IMPACT operates through five working groups: Legislative and Regulatory Infrastructure; Regulatory Implementation; Technology; Communication; and Enforcement. The framework provides guidance on: national legislation for criminalising medicine counterfeiting; regulatory frameworks for medicine quality control; technology solutions for authentication and traceability; public awareness campaigns; and law enforcement cooperation.
Counterfeit Medicine Problem
The WHO estimates that counterfeit medicines account for approximately 10% of the global medicine supply, with rates as high as 30–40% in some developing countries. Counterfeit medicines cause an estimated 100,000–250,000 deaths annually. The most commonly counterfeited medicines include antimalarials, antibiotics, antiretrovirals, and cancer drugs.
Technology Recommendations
IMPACT recommends a layered approach to medicine authentication combining: overt features (holograms, colour-shifting inks); covert features (microprinting, invisible inks); forensic features (chemical markers, DNA tagging); and track-and-trace systems (serialisation, RFID). No single technology is sufficient; multiple layers provide the strongest protection.