WPA Granted Observer Status to the Council of Europe
The World Patients Alliance (WPA) has been granted observer status to the Council of Europe’s Committee of the Parties to the MEDICRIME Convention. This recognition marks a significant advancement in WPA’s engagement with international frameworks dedicated to protecting public health, strengthening patient safety, and safeguarding communities from substandard and falsified medical products.
As an observer organization, WPA will be invited to participate in future plenary meetings of the Committee, which oversees the implementation of the MEDICRIME Convention the first international criminal law instrument to criminalise the counterfeiting of medical products, the falsification of related documents, and the unauthorised manufacture or supply of non-compliant medical products and devices. The Convention establishes a coordinated approach to prevention, enforcement, victim protection, and international cooperation.
Through this engagement, WPA aims to bring the patient perspective into global discussions on the integrity of medical products, ensuring that prevention and response measures reflect the real experiences of patients and communities. The observer status provides WPA with a platform to contribute to policy dialogues that prioritise safety, transparency, accountability, and equitable access to quality healthcare.
Statement by the World Patients Alliance
“We are honoured to be granted observer status under the Council of Europe’s MEDICRIME Convention. This recognition underscores the vital importance of involving patients and communities in global efforts to prevent the circulation of falsified and substandard medical products,” said Hussain Jafri, Chief Executive Officer of the World Patients Alliance.
“The Convention’s principles of criminalisation, ethical oversight, and victim protection resonate strongly with WPA’s mission to advance patient safety worldwide. We look forward to contributing to the Committee’s work and to strengthening international collaboration to ensure that all patients have access to safe, quality, and trustworthy medical products.”