National security: health care, pandemic (COVID-19) and the global trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals (part 2)

Abstract

Ukraine’s healthcare system faces unprecedented national security challenges in the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A particularly acute issue is countering counterfeit pharmaceuticals, preventing drug shortages, joining efforts of the authorities and national manufacturers of drugs and medical supplies. According to the UN, more than 60 % of the population lives below the poverty line in Ukraine. Timely response to these challenges and taking preventive measures will save lives, minimize the volume and consequences of the pandemic. The paper provides an economic and legal analysis, trends, risks and threats to national security of the state and health protection during a pandemic, in order to protect intellectual property rights, adequate coordination of actions at the national and international levels. The impact of counterfeiting on the criminal landscape in the EU, and also business and economy, is shown based on the analysis of studies by the OECD, the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and Europol. The foundations of anti-counterfeiting management, measures to implement a standard anti-counterfeiting strategy are proposed.