Tackling the Challenge of Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines in Nigeria

A recent report published by BMJ highlights the persisting issue of counterfeit and substandard medicines in Nigeria, despite the country’s regulatory efforts to address the problem. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) claims that a majority of medicines sold in Nigeria today are legitimate, compared to Read more…

WHO Executive Board Meeting 152: Report of the eleventh meeting of the Member State mechanism on substandard and falsified medical products

The eleventh meeting of the Member State mechanism on substandard and falsified medical products was held in Geneva, Switzerland on 19 and 20 October 2022. The WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, opened the meeting and underscored the importance of access to safe and quality medical products as a cornerstone Read more…

Mapping the quality of medical products across the world: The new Medicine Quality Monitoring (MQM) Globe by IDDO

The Medicine Quality Monitoring (MQM) Globe is a new interactive tool developed by the Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO) to track the quality of medical products across the world. The issue of substandard and falsified medicines is a serious concern, but surveillance of these products is limited in most parts Read more…

Improved knowledge on substandard and falsified medicines – a course for pharmacy students in sub-Saharan Africa

The lack of formal training on substandard and falsified (SF) medical products among pharmacists is a significant problem that needs to be addressed to combat the global health threat represented by SF products.   A recent study conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa among 355 pharmacy students shows t hat a dedicated educational Read more…

Fighting the fakes: tackling substandard and falsified medicines

A recent comment written by Oksana Zirka Pyzik (UCL Fight the Fakes academic chapter founder and lead) published by nature reviews highlights how poor-quality or fraudulent medicines are causing extensive humanitarian and economic harm, particularly in Africa. Authors claim these products are a global problem that requires a coordinated cross-border response, including enhanced Read more…

The quality of veterinary medicines and their implications for One Health

A new study conducted by Vayouly Vidhamaly, Konnie Bellingham, Paul N Newton and Céline Caillet and published in the BMJ Journals shows that substandard and falsified veterinary medicines affect animal health, agricultural production and food security and will influence antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in both animals and humans.  According to the authors, Read more…