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Healthcare leaders and regulators convene to focus on preventing falsified medicines from entering supply chain

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was the chosen venue for the first African GS1 Healthcare Conference, on 8-10 May.

310 participants willing to secure the healthcare supply chain
More than 310 participants met to share how they are using GS1 standards to help solve one of the world’s most pressing patient safety issues: falsified medicines.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1 in 10 medical products circulating in low- and middle-income countries is either substandard or falsified. This means that people are taking medications that either fail to treat or prevent disease. Falsified medical products lead to a loss of lives, negatively impacts economic growth and erodes overall trust in the healthcare system.
Organised and hosted by the Ethiopian Food, Medicine and Healthcare Administration and Control Authority (EFMHACA) in collaboration with its partners, the African GS1 Healthcare Conference brought together determined and inspired professionals who understand that securing the global healthcare supply chain enabled by GS1 standards is a “marathon, not a sprint.”


Great enthusiasm from all over the world
The conference was a huge success and generated tremendous enthusiasm and interest amongst participants. The numbers speak for themselves:

  • 310 participants from 25 African countries and 13 countries from the rest of the world
  • 4 Ministers from Ethiopia (Minister of Health, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Industry, Minister of Trade)
  • 45 Regulatory bodies sent 92 participants from 17 countries
  • 23 humanitarian organisations sent 67 participants from 23 countries
  • 33 manufacturers & 11 hospitals/Pharmacies
  • 7 GS1 Member Organisations (GS1 Ghana, GS1 Kenya, GS1 Netherlands, GS1 Nigeria, GS1 Senegal, GS1 South Africa & GS1 UAE)
  • 3 plenaries, 4 parallel streams and 24 expert speakers

Find additional information on the 1st GS1 African Healthcare Conference in Ethiopia 2018