Credit: LMVO
The Luxembourg Medicines Verification Organisation (LMVO) has announced that, starting on Monday 17 November 2025, pharmacies across the Grand Duchy will host a national information campaign entitled “Pharmacists protect patients”, aimed at reminding the public of the essential role of medication verification in pharmacies.
According to the LMVO, the campaign aims to inform the public about the systematic verification of medicines in Luxembourg and to highlight the essential role pharmacists play in protecting patients.
Since 2019, pharmacists in Luxembourg have verified every prescription medicine through the European Medicines Verification System (EMVS). Managed nationally by the LMVO, this system enables the removal of any suspect packaging from the supply chain and ensures that only safe and authentic medication reaches patients.
The organisation noted that counterfeit medicines represent a significant global public health threat, as such products may contain ineffective or even harmful substances. In response to the growing risk posed by counterfeit products, particularly those circulated via online commerce, the LMVO has launched a national awareness campaign in Luxembourg pharmacies.
The recent discovery of counterfeit packaging for an antidiabetic medicine in several European Union member states illustrates the need for continued vigilance. While serious cases, including fatalities linked to counterfeit products purchased outside legal channels, have been reported outside the European Union, this has not been the case within Europe. The European verification system, together with cooperation across the pharmaceutical supply chain, has allowed for the rapid detection and interception of these counterfeit products within the EU’s official distribution network before they could be dispensed to patients. This vigilance has ensured both the safety and integrity of the medicines distributed in the Union.
According to the LMVO, each prescription medicine is equipped with a unique identifier and a tamper-evident device. Before dispensing the medicine, pharmacists scan the product code and verify its authenticity in real time against the European database. If an anomaly is detected, the package is automatically blocked and cannot be dispensed.
For patients, the process remains unchanged, since the verification step is fully integrated into the dispensing workflow and is therefore invisible in practice. However, the organisation emphasised that it serves as a permanent and effective safeguard that is essential for protecting public health.
The European Medicines Verification System (EMVS), developed with the support of the pharmaceutical industry, relies on coordinated cooperation between all actors in the medicines supply chain - manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacists - as well as public authorities. The system represents a significant step forward in combating the circulation of illegal medicinal products.
“Pharmacists are on the front line in the fight against counterfeit medicines” emphasised Laurence Ponchaut, Director of LMVO. “Thanks to their vigilance and that of all actors in the drug distribution chain, from the manufacturer to the pharmacist, and also thanks to the EMVS system, patients benefit from invisible but continuous monitoring, which strengthens trust in the drug supply chain.”
The LMVO noted that the growth of unregulated e-commerce has facilitated the global circulation of counterfeit medicines. In this context, the EMVS is described as a crucial safeguard for protecting patients and preserving the integrity of the medicines supply chain.
The organisation added that, thanks to the cooperation of all actors in the sector, the system ensures that every medicine dispensed via pharmacies in the European Union has been authenticated, thereby strengthening public safety and confidence.
