West African Countries Inundated with Counterfeit Drugs

On July 15, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a report detailing how West Africa has become an increasing target for counterfeit drugs. According to the report, as much as 50 to 60 percent of the medicines in this region of the world were found to contain “little or no active ingredients.” The report goes on to explain why these counterfeit drugs are a major public health threat in Africa.

Marvin D. Shepherd, PhDShepherd (sm)

On July 15, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a report detailing how West Africa has become an increasing target for counterfeit drugs.  According to the report, as much as 50 to 60 percent of the medicines in this region of the world were found to contain “little or no active ingredients.”  The report goes on to explain why these counterfeit drugs are a major public health threat in Africa.

Those with low levels of active ingredients actually pose a greater hazard than those with none, because substandard antibiotics and anti-malarial drugs can promote the development of drug-resistant strains, or “super bugs” that can spread beyond the region. There is no way of estimating how many people have died prematurely as a result of being administered counterfeit medication, or how many will die in the future due to the development of drug-resistant strains.

The report’s findings are not surprising since the brunt of counterfeit drug sales are found in the developing countries which lack the resources to enforce their anti-counterfeiting laws or have poor government oversight.  Unfortunately, this means the people most victimized by counterfeit drugs also have little voice when it comes to protecting themselves from this immense threat.

The simple, undeniable fact of the matter is that patient safety and public health is being compromised on a global level by counterfeit drugs.  That’s why the Partnership for Safe Medicines developed the International Principles for Drug Safety.  We need to continue fostering international cooperation between government agencies, legislatures, law enforcement, and diplomatic corps to prosecute drug counterfeiters with stronger, criminal penalties.  Hopefully then, people in every corner of the globe start feeling secure that the medicines they receive are legitimate, safe pharmaceuticals.