One in Five African Medicines Substandard or Fake, Study Finds
This research serves as a crucial reminder of the urgent need for concerted efforts to safeguard public health in Africa.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia— Nearly 20% of medicines in Africa could be substandard or fake, according to a major research project, raising concerns about patient safety and treatment efficacy across the continent, writes Peter Chilongo.
Researchers from Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia analyzed 27 studies, reviewing 7,508 medicine samples. Of these, 1,639 failed at least one quality test, confirming they were substandard or falsified.
Claudia MartÃnez, head of research at the Access to Medicine Foundation, said, "If patients are getting medicines that are substandard or outright fake, it can result in their treatment failing or even preventable deaths."
U.N. estimates suggest substandard and fake medicines cause about 500,000 deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa alone.
"In Africa, one-fifth of medicines could be substandard or fake, and this is causing thousands of deaths every year," the researchers said.
In Malawi, where healthcare resources are already limited, counterfeit drugs further strain the system and erode public trust.
Patients unknowingly consuming these medicines risk treatment failure, prolonged illness and death.
The findings underscore the need for immediate action from regulatory authorities, healthcare providers and policymakers to ensure only safe, effective medicines reach the public.
This research serves as a crucial reminder of the urgent need for concerted efforts to safeguard public health in Africa.