Ritva Lehtonen appointed as the New Chair of Suomen Lääkevarmennus Oy "Everyone has the right to safe medicines"

The Board of Pharma Industry Finland (Lääketeollisuus ry) has appointed Ritva Lehtonen, CEO and Chair of the Board of Sanofi Oy, as well as the head of the company's vaccine business in Finland, as its representative on the Board of the Finnish Medicines Verification Organisation FiMVO. With this appointment, Lehtonen also assumes the role of Chair of the Board.

Ritva Lehtonen is delighted with this new opportunity to make an impact and looks forward to working closely with the Board and the FiMVO staff on this important mission: "Through the medicines verification system, we protect Finns from counterfeit medicines and enhance medicines safety. When consumers purchase their medicines from legal sources, they can be assured of the authenticity and safety of the products. Everyone has the right to safe medicines. My goal is to ensure that FiMVO continues its expert work and is well-prepared to meet future challenges."

The Finnish Medicines Verification System is part of a broader European framework designed to prevent counterfeit medicines from entering the legal supply chain. Counterfeit medicines should never be taken lightly, as using a dangerous, illegal product can lead to irreversible consequences.

"Counterfeit medicines pose a significant health risk to users and, in the worst case, can be life-threatening, as they may contain toxic substances. Medicines should always be purchased from legal pharmacies or online pharmacies, as the verification system ensures the authenticity of the products." says Ritva Lehtonen.

Ritva Lehtonen brings to the Board extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry and leadership. Her expertise will contribute to the development of the organisation and the achievement of strategic goals. She has a background as a licensed pharmacist and has worked in the pharmaceutical sector for over 25 years in various roles.

Finnish Medicines Verification Organisation FiMVO
FiMVO is responsible for managing and developing the medicine verification system in Finland. Established in 2016, the company operates as a non-profit entity, as required by the EU Falsified Medicines Directive. 

For more information:
Maija Gohlke, CEO, Suomen Lääkevarmennus Oy
Phone: +358 40 700 1655
Email: maija.gohlke@laakevarmennus.fi
Website: https://www.laakevarmennus.fi/