Labels and packaging are imitated perfectly

The global counterfeit drug trade, a multibillion-dollar industry, is flourishing in Africa and other developing countries. The concern with counterfeit medicines is that their labels and packaging are often imitated to perfection. The markets are engulfed with fake and poor-quality drugs. If you pick the wrong box, it could be a health hazard, even fatal. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 100,000 deaths a year in Africa are linked to the counterfeit drug trade. The organisation International Policy Network, reports that globally, 700,000 deaths a year are caused by fake malaria and tuberculosis drugs. The detection of counterfeit medicines has become extremely difficult over the years because of technology. Regrettably, the penalties for selling and possessing fake drugs are not strong enough to deter criminals. Regulatory bodies in every country need to ensure drug registration or marketing authorisation, also known as product licensing. This procedure focuses on thorough evaluation to ensure a drug is safe for consumption. A major factor that contributes to the thriving fake drug industry is the cost of medicines. Products sold in licensed pharmacies remain out of reach for a large part of the population. A joint study by the WHO and Health Action International found that “duties, taxes, mark-ups, distribution costs and dispensing fees are often high, regularly constituting between 30-40 per cent of retail prices, but occasionally up to 80 per cent or more of the total.” People will continue to patronise drug outlets like open drug markets for first-line treatments, because they’re cheaper. From Mr Trevor David Professor of Pharmacology based in Ukraine