Our June 5 virtual webinar, Operation African Star 2: Approaches to Strengthen Regulated Supply Chains and Protect Consumers Against Illicit Products, was a truly significant event. In this webinar, the Uganda National Drug Authority (NDA), the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) of Kenya, and other stakeholders discussed approaches to strengthen regulated supply chains and protect consumers against illicit products. On behalf of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and all the stakeholders supporting Operation African Star, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who attended and contributed to this crucial discussion.
The energy and commitment in the virtual room were palpable. It was inspiring to see representatives from such a diverse array of organizations. Alongside NDA and PPB, we were joined by International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI), Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT), Universal Postal Union (UPU), UK Intellectual Property Office, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG), and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These organizations are united by a common goal: to combat the increasing threat of illicit medicines.
Criminal networks are becoming alarmingly sophisticated, actively working to breach regulated supply chains. This reality underscores the urgent need for coordinated, cross-sectoral, and multi-country approaches, which is precisely what Operation African Star aims to foster.
A key focus of the webinar was the introduction of the first-of-its-kind Pharmaceutical Traceability Pilot Program, a collaborative effort between Operation African Star, NABP, PPB, and NDA. This pilot, leveraging the Pulse by NABP™ traceability platform, is designed to capture critical information about the movement of human drugs from their point of entry into Kenya and Uganda all the way to dispensing by participating pharmacists. This level of traceability and information sharing between other stakeholders is vital in ensuring the integrity of the supply chain and ultimately, protecting the health of consumers.
The discussions laid a solid foundation for the pilot, which will begin in July 2025. We had excellent insights from all the speakers, introducing critical resources and sharing perspectives that will undoubtedly inform our efforts moving forward.
This webinar was just the beginning. I’m excited to announce that this is the first in a series of 3 blog articles. In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing 2 more posts: one that will highlight what we anticipate will happen during the July traceability pilot, offering a deeper dive into the practicalities and expected outcomes, and a subsequent article that will review the pilot outcomes themselves, sharing our learnings and successes. Keep an eye out for those blog posts on our website.
The fight against illicit medicines is a global challenge, and events like this webinar demonstrate the power of collaboration in building a stronger, safer future for patients worldwide.