Call to Arms: Fight Drug Theft

The Global Fund to Fight Aids is inviting agencies in developing countries to pursue and stem drug thefts, by joining to together to share information ,as well as procurement and distribution capacities.

The Global Fund to Fight Aids is inviting agencies in developing countries to pursue and stem drug thefts, by joining to together to share information, as well as procurement and distribution capacities.

Spokesman Andrew Hurst said that the there have been reports of large-scale theft of new malaria drugs. “The medicines, known as Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs), are given out for free or very cheaply in public health centers and hospitals in a large number of countries but are sold over the counter in pharmacies and street stalls for $8 US or more per treatment,” reported the South African newspaper, The Citizen.

“Typically, more than half of malaria drugs in African countries are not given out by doctors or nurses but are sold over the counter,” said Hurst.

Michel Kazatchkine, the Global Fund’s executive director, said the problem can only be solved if all health institutions work together and is seeking stricter control of drug warehousing and distribution due to reports of drug thefts in five African countries, reported The Citizen.

“Theft of medicines is a problem that affects all institutions investing in health services, and we must clamp down on it,” said Kaztchkine in a GFFA press release, “However, no single institution can act on its own. We can only solve this challenge if we all work together.”

The Global Fund is a public/private partnership dedicated to providing resources to prevent and treat HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria.