Unsafe Medicines
1 in 10 medicines in low-income countries are unsafe.
Substandard and falsified medicines are a silent epidemic. They jeopardize lives, fuel antimicrobial resistance, and drain over $30 billion (USD) annually. Sold online or in informal markets, these unsafe products erode public trust and disproportionately harm those with limited access to regulated health systems.
Insights
Political: Weak enforcement and regulatory gaps hinder global health security. Greater alignment on cross-border policy, legal deterrents, and trade standards is needed.
Economic: Ineffective treatments increase costs for patients and systems. Losses total over $30.5 billion (USD) annually—especially in low-resource settings.
Social: Vulnerable populations suffer the most due to lack of awareness and access. Trust in health providers and systems erodes, deepening inequities.
Technological: Digital traceability, handheld diagnostics, and blockchain offer new tools—but need investment, scaling, and regulatory alignment to be effective.
Legal: Legal frameworks lag behind technological developments, and enforcement is inconsistent. Counterfeit networks exploit these legal blind spots.
Environmental: Informal drug production and disposal practices contribute to environmental contamination and pose risks to ecosystems and communities.
Reflective Questions
How might we strengthen global cooperation to track and eliminate falsified medical products across borders?
What role could digital technologies play in building public trust and supply chain transparency?
How can equitable access to affordable, quality medicines reduce the demand for unsafe alternatives?
Related Insight Cards
References:
World Health Organization, 2024. Substandard and falsified medical products. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/substandard-and-falsified-medical-products
