top of page
Writer's pictureKate Enright

Prevalence of Substandard and Falsified Drugs in Africa


Biset Asrades MSc (Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Assurance)


Instructor | Department of Clinical Pharmacy | Bahir Dar University | Ethiopia


Background: Medicines can save lives and prevent diseases if they are safe, efficacious, of good quality and are used rationally. The use of substandard/Falsified drugs can be harmful to the health and well-being of the individual patient as well as to a wider section of the population. They also undermine confidence in the health service, health professionals who treat patients, prescribers, as well as those who manufacture, distribute and dispense/sale medicines.


Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to overview the prevalence of substandard/falsified drugs and its associate factors in Africa, 2020.

Methods: Twenty relevant literatures published from February 28, 2010 to February 29, 2020 a ten years period on prevalence of substandard/falsified drugs and its associated factors by using different databases (Hinari, Google scholar, Medline, Pub med and Embase) were reviewed.

Results: The average prevalence of substandard/falsified drugs in Africa was 39%. Among of those substandard/falsified drugs, Antibiotics and antimalarial drugs are commonly targeted by counterfeiters in Africa on average 34.6% and 39% respectively and also anti -TB drugs accounts around 16.6%. Weak drug regulatory authority, lack of regulation by exporters within free trade zones, small pharmaceutical industries, high demand for curative and preventive drugs, high prices and inefficient cooperation among stakeholders and lack of good manufacturing practice in local pharmaceutical industries are the major factors w/c contribute on prevalence of substandard/falsified drugs and also it leads to the greatest socioeconomic and public health impact in Africa.

Conclusion/Recommendation: Substandard/falsified drugs are the most hazards in developed and developing countries. Attention isn’t given to SF drugs in Africa. In order to address the this problem require an urgent close collaboration between the government, regulatory bodies, pharmaceutical companies, consistent supply systems of high quality products, applying GMP to manufacturing to ensure massive public enlightenment and the effective enforcement of the existing drug laws in Africa. Preventing drugs from Sub- standardization/falsifying problems are a primary duty of every responsible nation in order to save lives.


 


Conflict of Interest:

None declared.

51 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page