• Advertise
  • Contact
Sunday, May 18, 2025
New York Voice News
  • Login
  • Home
  • TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
  • NYC 2025 Elections
    • Public Advocate Candidates Forum
    • Comptroller Candidates Forum
    • Meet The Candidate Video Interview Series
  • Metro
  • U.S.
  • International
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
  • Home
  • TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
  • NYC 2025 Elections
    • Public Advocate Candidates Forum
    • Comptroller Candidates Forum
    • Meet The Candidate Video Interview Series
  • Metro
  • U.S.
  • International
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
No Result
View All Result
New York Voice
No Result
View All Result
Home International

Africa Faces Crisis as One-Fifth of Medicines Found Fake or Substandard

Lisa Miller by Lisa Miller
August 5, 2024
in Africa, International
Africa Faces Crisis as One-Fifth of Medicines Found Fake or Substandard
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

New research has revealed that one-fifth of medicines in Africa are substandard or fake, contributing to nearly 500,000 deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa.

A comprehensive study conducted by Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia examined 27 studies and found that 1,639 out of 7,508 medicine samples failed quality tests, confirming them as substandard or falsified. This alarming finding underscores a significant public health crisis in the region, where access to genuine, effective medicines is crucial for patient survival and overall health outcomes.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that falsified and substandard medicines are responsible for up to 500,000 deaths each year in sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, substandard antimalarial medicines are linked to 267,000 deaths annually, while falsified antibiotics contribute to 169,271 deaths from severe pneumonia in children. These figures highlight the deadly impact of counterfeit medications on vulnerable populations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies antibiotics and antimalarial drugs as the most commonly falsified medicines in Africa. Substandard antibiotics can contain incorrect dosages or wrong active ingredients, leading to ineffective treatments and increased antimicrobial resistance. The prevalence of these dangerous products is exacerbated by complex, inefficient, and fragmented pharmaceutical supply chains in low- and middle-income countries.

Claudia Martínez, head of research at the Access to Medicine Foundation, emphasized the need for immediate action from governments, national authorities, and pharmaceutical companies to address this crisis. Strengthening supply chains, enhancing infrastructure, improving logistics, and implementing better surveillance-monitoring systems are essential steps to prevent the distribution of substandard and falsified medicines.

The UNODC report highlights the economic toll of these counterfeit products, with costs associated with treating malaria patients using fake medicines ranging from $12 million to $44.7 million annually. Moreover, international operations have seized over 605 tons of medical products in West Africa between 2017 and 2021, revealing the scale of this illicit trade.

The African Union’s African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization initiative, established in 2009, aims to improve access to safe and affordable medicine across the continent. Additionally, most Sahel countries have ratified a treaty to establish the African Medicines Agency, reflecting a concerted effort to combat the proliferation of fake medicines.

Despite these initiatives, the challenge remains significant. Various actors, including pharmaceutical company employees, public officials, law enforcement officers, and street vendors, are implicated in the illicit trade of medical products. Addressing this multifaceted issue requires a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach to prevent, detect, and respond to substandard and falsified medicines.

Related Posts

Musk’s Chatbot Grok Sparks Controversy on X Over “White Genocide” References
South Africa

Musk’s Chatbot Grok Sparks Controversy on X Over “White Genocide” References

by Maria Cruz
May 15, 2025
Africa

U.S. Announces New Diplomacy Plan to Expand Trade with Africa

by Mona Davids
May 15, 2025
Trump Administration Grants Refugee Status to 49 White South Africans Arrive in U.S.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

Trump Administration Grants Refugee Status to 49 White South Africans Arrive in U.S.

by Tamara Brown
May 12, 2025
Cardinal Robert Prevost Becomes Pope Leo XIV, Breaking New Ground as the First American Pope
Metro

Cardinal Robert Prevost Becomes Pope Leo XIV, Breaking New Ground as the First American Pope

by Lisa Miller
May 8, 2025
Constitutional Court Strikes Down Law Stripping South Africans of Citizenship for Acquiring Another Nationality
South Africa

Constitutional Court Strikes Down Law Stripping South Africans of Citizenship for Acquiring Another Nationality

by Isabella Rodriguez
May 6, 2025

Translate

af Afrikaanssq Albanianam Amharicar Arabichy Armenianaz Azerbaijanieu Basquebe Belarusianbn Bengalibs Bosnianbg Bulgarianca Catalanceb Cebuanony Chichewazh-CN Chinese (Simplified)zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)co Corsicanhr Croatiancs Czechda Danishnl Dutchen Englisheo Esperantoet Estoniantl Filipinofi Finnishfr Frenchfy Frisiangl Galicianka Georgiande Germanel Greekgu Gujaratiht Haitian Creoleha Hausahaw Hawaiianiw Hebrewhi Hindihmn Hmonghu Hungarianis Icelandicig Igboid Indonesianga Irishit Italianja Japanesejw Javanesekn Kannadakk Kazakhkm Khmerko Koreanku Kurdish (Kurmanji)ky Kyrgyzlo Laola Latinlv Latvianlt Lithuanianlb Luxembourgishmk Macedonianmg Malagasyms Malayml Malayalammt Maltesemi Maorimr Marathimn Mongolianmy Myanmar (Burmese)ne Nepalino Norwegianps Pashtofa Persianpl Polishpt Portuguesepa Punjabiro Romanianru Russiansm Samoangd Scottish Gaelicsr Serbianst Sesothosn Shonasd Sindhisi Sinhalask Slovaksl Slovenianso Somalies Spanishsu Sundanesesw Swahilisv Swedishtg Tajikta Tamilte Teluguth Thaitr Turkishuk Ukrainianur Urduuz Uzbekvi Vietnamesecy Welshxh Xhosayi Yiddishyo Yorubazu Zulu
en English
No Result
View All Result

VOICE and LAN Newspapers Retailers

  • NEWS CATEGORIES
  • Metro
  • Crime and Public Safety
  • Adams Adminstration
  • Education
  • School Safety
  • U.S.
  • International
  • QUICK LINKS
  • Home
  • Newspaper Editions
  • Retail Locations
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Contact

© 2025 New York Voice News. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Metro
  • Crime and Public Safety
  • Adams Adminstration
  • Education
  • School Safety
  • U.S.
  • International
  • Newspaper Editions
  • Retail Locations
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Contact

© 2025 New York Voice News. All Rights Reserved.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?