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According to a recently published study, one-fifth of medicines in Africa could be substandard or fake and can result in failed treatments and preventable deaths.

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Researchers from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar University reviewed 27 studies and analyzed about 7,508 medicine samples. At least 1,639 samples failed quality tests, indicating that substandard and falsified medicines are prevalent in Africa.

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The researchers linked the high proportion of substandard or falsified medicines to poor surveillance systems, higher demand, and free trade zones in the region.

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Substandard medicines are legally approved but may not meet required quality standards. Falsified medicines intentionally lie about their identity, composition, or source.

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A UN report last year revealed that substandard and falsified antimalarial medicines and antibiotics have caused over 450K deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa.

A previous study by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that 10% of medical products — from cancer treatment to contraception — in developing countries are either substandard or falsified.

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A recent study conducted in Africa has found that nearly 20% of medications on the continent may be substandard or fake.

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Researchers from Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia reviewed 27 studies, and found that out of 7,508 medicine samples, 1,639 failed quality tests, indicating that the medications were substandard or falsified.

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According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, subpar and falsified medicines cause up to 500,000 deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa. The WHO has identified antibiotics and anti-malarial drugs as the most commonly falsified medications.

Substandard medicines are medications that are legally approved but may not meet required quality standards. Falsified medications are drugs that intentionally lie about their identity, composition, or source. Since these drugs may contain incorrect dosages or the wrong ingredients, treatments may be ineffective, and in the case of counterfeit antibiotics, may lead to the persistence of antibiotic resistant strains.

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The results of the study align with a similar study by the WHO in 2017 which found that as many as one in ten medical products in developing countries are substandard or falsified.

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The study attributes the high proportion of fake and subpar medication to a poor regulatory oversight in the market in Africa, subpar importation practices, high demand, free trade zones, and inadequate registration.

While the findings of this study are worrying, people should avoid from making sweeping generalizations based on this alone. There are some possible biases in the research methods including non-random sampling and unpublished surveys that found no issues, as well as a lack of studies in general about substandard medication apart from Asia and Africa. Additionally, the prevalence of false and subpar medication fluctuates across time, countries, and type of medication.

Fifth of medicines in Africa may be sub-par or fake, research finds

Urgent action needs to be taken to combat the issue of subpar and falsified medicines in Africa. A plethora of factors lead to the prevalence of these harmful medications across the continent, and hundreds of thousands of people have died and continue to die as a result. These incorrect medications lead to ineffective and preventable deaths. The time to act is now.

Research Reveals One-Fifth of Medicines in Africa May Be Substandard or Fake

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Study Finds Fifth of Medicines in Africa May Be Fake

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While the study's findings are worrying, Africa isn’t manufacturing subpar or counterfeit medicines. Countries outside of the continent, such as China and India, are the producers and suppliers of fake medicines. This is a global public health crisis, and asking only African stakeholders to fix this problem is unfair.

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Fake drugs, real impact: Western Asia’s counterfeit medicine epidemic

This study raises the alarm over a public health crisis that could be contributing to the deaths of countless patients in low- and middle-income countries. Besides increasing public awareness, the stakeholders must strengthen supply chains and improve logistical issues to prevent, detect, and respond to substandard and falsified medicines.

Study: 20% of Medicines in Africa Either Substandard or Fake

Study: Finds20% Fifth of Medicines in Africa MayEither BeSubstandard or Fake

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Study: 20% of Medicines in Africa Either Substandard or Fake

Study: Finds20% Fifth of Medicines in Africa MayEither BeSubstandard or Fake

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