News Room

COUNTERFEIT MEDICINES

While the issue of counterfeit medicines is not new, there seems to be a growing prevalence of incidents reported by the media. The following articles highlight some of the reported cases, and dangers, of counterfeit medicines.

Nigeria widens tests on infant drugs after 28 die

(Reuters - Africa -- Nov. 27, 2008) Nigerian health officials on Thursday scrambled to test more children's drugs after the number of infants killed by tainted teething syrup rose to 28.

Interpol Seizes $6.65 Million in Counterfeit Drugs

(Bloomberg News - Nov. 17, 2008) Interpol seized more than $6.65 million of counterfeit medicines against malaria, HIV and tuberculosis in Southeast Asia and made 27 arrests, disrupting the region's fake drug trade for the second time in three years.

Pharmacy Board Destroys Le90M Fake Drugs, Holds Stakeholders Meeting in Sierra Leone

(Awareness Times - Nov. 5, 2008) Fake, counterfeit and substandard drugs worth over ninety million Leones were destroyed by the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone (PBSL) at the northern headquarter city of Makeni in the Bombali District. The problem of counterfeit drugs, the Registrar said, is not unique to Sierra Leone as according to him, "40% of all drugs sold in Africa are counterfeit or substandard".

Millions at risk from fake medicines smuggled into UK

(The Independent - Nov. 2, 2008) Packets of fake pills are being smuggled into high-street chemists and sold as real medicines that prevent heart attacks or fight cancer, putting the lives of millions of British patients at risk.

Enact Counterfeits Bill, medics urge

(Daily Nation - Oct. 17, 2008) Medical practitioners have asked members of Parliament to promptly enact the Counterfeit Bill, 2008, to save lives that could be lost due to the use of counterfeit medicine.

Belgian customs seize record haul of fake pills, from India

(AfricaAsiaNews.com - Oct. 2, 2008) Customs authorities at Brussels airport have seized over two million counterfeit medical pills from India which were bound for Africa, the biggest such seizure ever in Europe, officials said Thursday.

Two-Thirds of Chinese Drug Stores Sell Counterfeit Medicine, Says Investigator

(Epoch Times - Sept. 29, 2008) There has been much coverage by Western media over the last two years about the health risks posed by "Made in China" products, including Chinese export of counterfeit medicines. Chinese counterfeit medicines may have already caused hundreds—if not thousands—of deaths outside of China.

WHO raises fears over high level of counterfeit drugs in Kenya

(African Press Agency - Sept. 4, 2008) The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday raised fears over the high level of counterfeit malaria drugs in Kenya.